Anterior cruciate ligament rupture occurs when the tissue that connects the femur (or femur) to the tibia (or tibia) tears, making running, cutting, twisting and jumping a severely painful endeavor that can lead to severe pain and have devastating effects on an athlete’s mobility. ACL tears often require surgery and require a detailed rehabilitation process that involves gradually strengthening the stabilizing muscles, such as the quads, hamstrings and glutes. But if properly rehabilitated, athletes can hope to return to action in about a year, depending on the severity of the problem. With that in mind, here are five NFL players who felt this low point in their careers but made their comebacks.
Joe Burrow
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow was the No. 1 overall pick in 2020 when he tore an ACL and MCL. After approximately 9 months of rehabilitation, he returned for the 2021 season and led the Bengals to Super Bowl LVI (where they would ultimately lose to the Rams).
After his injury, Burrow continues to impress and was awarded “Comeback Player of the Year” in 2023. More recently, he was selected to the 2026 Pro Bowl, which will be his third Pro Bowl appearance. The quarterback currently ranks in the top five in major passing statistics. Now that’s what you call a comeback.
Saquon Barkley
Barkley described his 2020 ACL tear as ‘probably the weakest moment of my life’ admitting that the setback resulted in a lot of crying and frustration. The then-New York Giants running back required surgery after a non-contact injury that occurred while cutting and running on the field, and since it was a multi-ligament injury, he required about a year of rehabilitation.
Fortunately, Barkley returned to action in 2021 and recovered better in 2022. racking up over 1,300 yards from scrimmage and ten touchdowns in 16 games. Now it was the running back for the Philadelphia Englishs ranked as the number one NFL player in 2025.
By Molenaar
Von Miller tore his ACL twice during a very physical career. The first (right knee) came in 2013 while playing with the Denver Broncos, leading him to Super Bowl XLVIII (where
they lost to the Seattle Seahawks) and the second (this time he left) was discovered during exploratory surgery in 2022.
While both injuries required approximately ten months of rehabilitation, Miller is finally finding his feet again after a challenging season with the Buffalo Bills. experts believe that the 36-year-old can still be an effective situational pass rusher for a while.
Tom Brady
In 2008, Brady’s attempt to evade a tackle from Chiefs linebacker Bernard Pollard resulted in the football icon’s knee being bent beyond recognition when Pollard’s helmet struck the star’s left knee. The Patriot suffered a torn ACL and a partially torn MCL (Medical Collateral Ligament) as a result, less than eight minutes into the match.
Brady’s recovery time was approximately 10 months, and he returned to training camp at the start of the 2009 season. As expected, the injury didn’t mar Brady’s winning touch, and he earned MVP Awards in 2010, 2017 and 2021… Not to mention a whopping four Super Bowls.
Cooper coup
In 2018, Kupp was playing for the Los Angeles Rams as a wide receiver against the Denver Broncos when he was stretchered off the field with a knee injury. He missed just two games before a non-contact injury against the Seattle Seahawks forced him to the ground again. An MRI later revealed that Kupp had torn his ACL, causing him to miss an appearance in Super Bowl LIII, where they lost 13-3 to the Patriots.
Incredibly, Kupp returned to the Rams for next season after a successful stint in rehab and could now come full circle on Sunday. Now that Kupp plays for the Seahawks, he hopes to crush the Patriots in Super Bowl LX. We’re sure Zach Charbonnet will be watching intently!
Super Bowl LX takes place on February 8, 2026. For more information, click here!
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