Chicago Bears cornerback Douglas Coleman III was immobilized on a stretcher and taken out of Arrowhead Stadium by ambulance Thursday night after tackling Chiefs forward Cornell Powell on the first play of the second half of their exhibition game.
The 26-year-old Coleman had his head up as he rushed to the Chiefs sideline to make the tackle, but his neck buckled uncomfortably to the side and the former CFL star went down on impact. Coleman lay motionless as trainers from both teams rushed the field to check on him, and they were soon joined by doctors as a medical cart also rolled onto the field.
Bears coach Matt Eberflus stepped in and watched Coleman move his limbs as medical staff removed his face mask and strapped him to a backboard. He was then loaded onto a cart and wheeled through the tunnel in the corner of the stadium.
“When I was on the field, there on the Chiefs sideline, he was moving his limbs and giving us a thumbs up,” Eberflus said, “so that was good to see. I’m all out of here. He’s in the hospital right now, being checked out.”
The Bears won their last practice game 34-21.
Coleman played college football at Texas Tech, where he was a freshman in 2016 and Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was a junior poised to become a first-round NFL draft pick. Coleman moved to safety as a senior and was an All-Big 12 selection.
Coleman went undrafted in 2020, but signed as a free agent with the Broncos and spent time on their practice squad. He spent the past three years with the Ottawa Redblacks, where he alternated between safety and linebacker. Last season, he played in 17 games with 60 tackles, four sacks, three interceptions and both interceptions and fumble returns for touchdowns.