“Scariest day in NFL history”: Donald Parham entered an involuntary fencing pose after Justin Herbert threw him a diving pass

An Instagram account called “footballmediadaily” recently shared footage of then-Los Angeles Chargers tight end Donald Parham’s injury, captioned “Scariest day in NFL history.” In the first quarter of the Chargers vs. Kansas City Chiefs game at SoFi Stadium on December 16, 2021, in Inglewood, California, Parham suffered a head injury when then-rookie quarterback Justin Herbert threw a 5-yard diving pass in the back of the end zone on fourth-and-goal.Parham left the ground near the end zone and landed awkwardly. He pulled out his hand before landing, then, as he lay on the field, his head hit the ground and bounced, and he dropped the ball. He tumbled to the other side because of his high-speed running. When he lay on one side, his arms were in an involuntary fencing pose. He was probably unable to move them. When a camera zoomed in on the tight end, his eyes were closed, but his mouth was open. A fellow Chargers teammate tried to lift him off the ground through his left arm, but Parham was frozen in a fence position. Trainers and medical staff removed his facemask from his helmet and placed him on a stretcher. As he was wheeled off the turf, his hands were visibly shaking. Parham was taken by ambulance to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, where he was reported stable and underwent tests and imaging for a head injury. After staying overnight for observation, he was diagnosed with a concussion.The then-Chargers head coach Brandon Staley, who is now a defensive coordinator for the New Orleans Saints, told ESPN, “It’s the tough side of pro sports. Any time you see that live and are close to it, it impacts you.” Herbert, who threw that diving pass at Parham, said then, “I’m just hoping for the best. Parham has been an incredible teammate and friend. He’s been nice to everyone in that locker room, and everyone loves him. It’s incredibly tough to see him down on the field. But he’s tough. He’s a fighter. We just have to pray and hope for him, and hopefully he’s ready to go.” A day later, the team tweeted, “He is resting comfortably, alert, and will likely be discharged from the hospital later today.”The Chargers released Parham in Aug. 2024. That month, he joined the Denver Broncos’ practice squad. In Feb. 2025, the undrafted tight end signed a one-year, $1.17 million contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers. In Jun. 2025, he suffered an Achilles tear during OTAs, ending his 2025 campaign. He is currently an unrestricted free agent for 2026.