The NFL player who was paralyzed for life was Darryl Stingley.
Darryl Stingley, a wide receiver for the New England Patriots, suffered a career-ending injury during an NFL preseason game on August 12, 1978, in a collision with Oakland Raiders free safety Jack Tatum. As Stingley reached for an errant pass, he and Tatum collided. Stingley's helmet made direct contact with Tatum's shoulder pad, resulting in a severe injury to his spinal cord.
The impact of the collision compressed Stingley's spinal cord and led to the breaking of his fourth and fifth cervical vertebrae. This catastrophic injury left him a quadriplegic for the rest of his life, meaning he had full or partial paralysis of all four limbs and torso. While he eventually regained limited movement in his right arm, he remained dependent on a wheelchair and required constant care until his passing in 2007. His story became a poignant symbol of the risks inherent in professional football.
For more information, you can refer to the Darryl Stingley Wikipedia page.
