9 Athletes Who Made Incredible Comebacks From Career-Ending Injuries
Injuries happen in sports all the time, but some are so hard that they seem like the end of the road. For these athletes, though, the story didn’t stop there. Their career-ending setbacks turned into incredible comebacks. Each of them found a way to fight through it and return to doing what they do best.
Tiger Woods
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After multiple back surgeries, including a spinal fusion in 2017, Tiger Woods was barely able to walk. But in 2018, he shocked the sports world by winning the Tour Championship. A year later, he added a fifth green jacket at the 2019 Masters. Once counted out, Woods clawed his way back to major-winning form in one of golf’s most remarkable returns.
Paul George
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During a Team USA scrimmage in 2014, Paul George landed awkwardly and suffered a compound fracture in his right leg. The video was hard to watch, let alone imagine a comeback. But by the 2015-16 NBA season, George averaged over 23 points per game and played in 81 contests. He returned better and became one of the league’s premier two-way players again.
Bethany Hamilton
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Bethany Hamilton was just 13 when a shark bit off her left arm while surfing in Hawaii. That sounds like the end of a promising career, but it wasn’t. Just one month after the attack, she was back on her board. She went on to compete professionally, star in a major film about her life, and become an icon for resilience.
Victor Cruz
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Victor Cruz’s 2014 patellar tendon tear could’ve been the end. Add a calf injury the next year, and things looked grim. But in 2016, the salsa-dancing wide receiver was back with the New York Giants. He caught a touchdown in Week 1 and followed it up with a clutch grab in Week 2. Cruz’s road back took nearly two years, but the payoff was sweet.
Peyton Manning
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Four neck surgeries and a spinal fusion would force most quarterbacks into retirement. Not Peyton Manning. After missing the 2011 season, he joined the Denver Broncos and promptly threw for 4,659 yards and 37 touchdowns. In 2013, he shattered NFL records with 5,477 passing yards and 55 TDs. He finished his career with a Super Bowl win and two MVPs post-surgery.
Klay Thompson
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Klay Thompson missed back-to-back seasons after tearing his ACL in 2019, then his Achilles in 2020. Fans weren’t sure he’d ever suit up again. But he came back in January 2022 and looked right at home. He passed 2,000 career three-pointers and proved he’s still one of the game’s deadliest shooters.
Adrian Peterson
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In 2011, Adrian Peterson tore both his ACL and MCL, injuries that typically take over a year to rehab. Instead, he returned after just 10 months and nearly broke the single-season rushing record with 2,097 yards in 2012. He also earned MVP and Offensive Player of the Year that season.
Derrick Rose
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Derrick Rose’s career took a sharp detour after tearing his ACL in 2012. Repeated injuries, including meniscus tears, left many thinking his MVP days were behind him. But in 2018, he dropped 50 points in a game with the Timberwolves. Since then, Rose has been a valued vet and reliable contributor across multiple teams.
Alex Smith
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Alex Smith’s 2018 leg injury was terrifying: 17 surgeries, a near-amputation, and a life-threatening infection. Doctors weren’t sure he’d walk again. Less than two years later, he was starting for the Washington Football Team. In 2020, he led the team to a division title and won NFL Comeback Player of the Year.
Giancarlo Stanton
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In 2014, Giancarlo Stanton was hit in the face by a pitch, suffered multiple facial fractures, and needed reconstructive dental work. He missed the rest of the season. Some wondered if he’d ever feel confident at the plate again. Instead, he came back swinging, literally, crushing 27 homers in just 74 games in 2015 before a hand injury ended that campaign early.
Laquon Treadwell
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While playing for Ole Miss in 2014, Laquon Treadwell dislocated his ankle and broke his fibula on a goal-line tackle. The injury was both painful and heartbreaking. But he came back with 82 catches and over 1,100 receiving yards in 2015. His bounce-back season helped him become a first-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.
Rafael Nadal
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Rafael Nadal isn’t new to injury layoffs. Chronic knee tendinitis and a rare foot condition nearly derailed his career multiple times. But the Spaniard adapted his game and kept bouncing back, most notably winning the 2022 Australian Open after another long injury break. That gave him a record 21 Grand Slam titles, and he added one more at Roland Garros that same year.
Shaun Livingston
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Shaun Livingston’s 2007 injury was so bad that it nearly cost him his leg. He tore the ACL, MCL, PCL, and dislocated his kneecap in one fall. Most assumed retirement was inevitable. But after years of rehab and short stints with various teams, he found a perfect role with the Golden State Warriors, even helping them win three titles as a clutch bench contributor.
Grant Hill
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Grant Hill battled through chronic ankle injuries and a serious staph infection that sidelined him for years. Once seen as the league’s next big star, he quietly slipped out of the spotlight. But in the mid-2000s, he made a steady return with the Phoenix Suns by carving out a second act as a dependable veteran. His comeback extended his career well into his late 30s.
Buster Posey
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A collision at home plate in 2011 broke Buster Posey’s fibula and tore ligaments in his ankle. It ended his season early, but not his career. The next year, he returned with a vengeance and won NL MVP, a batting title, and helped the San Francisco Giants win the World Series. His injury also led to MLB changing rules to protect catchers.