Pro football Hall of Famer and former Heisman Trophy winner Paul Hornung is suing equipment manufacturer Riddell, saying its helmets failed to protect him from brain injury.
Attorneys filed the lawsuit on behalf of the 80-year-old Hornung in Cook County Circuit Court in Chicago on Thursday. It names Rosemont-based Riddell as the defendant.
The suit says Hornung suffered multiple concussions as a player and that he has been diagnosed with dementia. It says the neurodegenerative disease has been linked to repetitive head trauma. The suit seeks unspecified damages.
Hornung won the Heisman in 1956 while at Notre Dame. The Green Bay Packers selected him a year later. He was the NFL MVP in 1962 and he played on four championship teams (1961, ’62, ’65 and ’66).
Riddell didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
Where will it all end. Can someone sue a knife company for allowing a murder suspect to kill a loved one. Yes, if a husband is shot by a rapist while He was defending his wife with a knife I see in the future where the knife manufacture will be held accountable for the knife not doing it’s job. I am totally ashamed of this NFL who is trying to get the spotlight one last time in the name of safety. SHAME on him…
Im sure he knew the dangers of playing football. It was his choice to play the game.
Then … there is my perennial question: did anyone put an AK47 to the head of the NFL football players who now complain about their injuries and put their blame either on the equipment of on something else. The sign up because of the money offered. Period. They took their changes and now they will have to pay with their well earned $$$$ for their medical care.
Better question: How can you sue someone for not manfacturing something to standards that didn’t exist at the time of manufacture?What’s next? Suing the Ford Motor Company for not having airbags on their Model T’s?
I think it”s hilarious whenever one of these former football players basically comes forward and says “I chose to play a game where I knew I’d get my head knocked around, but I had NO IDEA I’d suffer any lingering effects from it.” Apparently the desire for money is much greater than the shame of admitting you’re STUPID.
I agree with all of the comments here so far. Unfortunately our society has been brainwashed by crooked attorneys, liberal main stream media, and politicians, to believe that it is better to blame someone else for their own stupid decisions. Honesty and integrity is very limited in our country today. Just take a hard look at our politicians today.
Paul Hornung is now 80. Many people who have never played competitive sports suffer the same illness at this age. So Hornung’s age alone could account for his illness. Also he was wearing a Packers uniform. That uniform made him a target of tough Bears, Lions, and Vikings players. So why not sue the uniform manufacturer as well? Hey, Paul, you’re 80. That’s doing good. Glen Campbell has the same disease and all he ever did was sing.