What happened to Douglas Coleman? Bears CB carried out on stretcher after brutal hit vs Chiefs
The Chicago Bears had to deal with a major scare in their final preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday. Cornerback Douglas Coleman made a tackle during the first play from scrimmage in the second half but came out on the wrong side of it and had to be taken off the field on a stretcher.
It looked like a routine tackle, but as soon as the play ended, Coleman was seen in major pain. Concern grew about his condition, and soon enough, it emerged that he wouldn't be able to move. A cart came out for him before he was put on a stretcher and taken off the field.
Coleman appeared to dart into the tackle but the way he landed and the awkward nature of his neck upon impact was a concern.
The entire Chicago Bears sideline came to Coleman's help, with many players praying for their teammate before he was taken away in an ambulance. Chiefs players also surrounded him as Coleman received treatment on the field.
The Bears have not yet provided an update on the situation, but the game has since resumed.
UPDATE: Coleman was taken to the hospital in an ambulance. Bears head coach Matt Eberflus told reporters Coleman gave his teammates a thumbs-up before exiting the field. He also has movement in his limbs, which is a major positive, given the situation.
Who is Douglas Coleman?
The defensive back returned to the NFL after a three-year spell in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He signed with the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent after the 2020 recruitment.
Coleman played college football at Texas Tech, and even made it to the First-team All-Big 12 in 2019. Although he made a good impression during the Broncos' camp in 2020, the team decided against retaining him in order to keep players with more experience during the COVID-19 season.
He played for the Ottawa Redblacks for three years. In his first two, he struggled to get consistent playing time, but his fate changed in 2023. He became a starter and earned plenty of recognition for his excellent play, which resulted in an NFL comeback.
It remains to be seen whether Coleman makes the Bears' roster after next week's cuts, but the most important thing right now is his health.