CHICAGO -- The Chicago Bears announced Tuesday morning that they have terminated the contract of former ACU wide receiver Johnny Knox.
Knox earned a Pro Bowl berth as a rookie in 2009 after finishing second in the league in kickoff return average and was a starter at receiver for the Bears. However, Knox, 26, suffered a severe spinal injury on Dec. 18, 2011, on a hit by Seattle Seahawks defensive end Anthony Hargrove and hasn't played since. He underwent spinal fusion surgery to repair a fractured vertebra and spent the entire 2012 season on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) List.
“It was a freak play," Knox told
chicagobears.com of the play that ended his 2011 season. "You'll probably never see that happen to anybody again. I've tried not to ask myself why it happened to me. You always hear that everything happens for a reason and I know things will work out for the best."
He was due to make $1.26 million in 2013. It's still unclear whether he'll ever play football again.
"Johnny should be very proud of his accomplishments and what he's done for the city of Chicago and for the Chicago Bears," Chicago general manager Phil Emery said in a statement released by the team. "He did a lot for our fans and a lot for our team. I'm disappointed for him that he won't be able to move forward with the team. Johnny will always be a Bear and he will always be welcome here in our practice facility and all of our team events and at games."
Knox was selected by the Bears in the fifth round of the 2009 draft out of Abilene Christian. He was voted to the Pro Bowl as a rookie on special teams, ranking second in the NFL with a 29.0-yard average including a 102-yard touchdown on 32 kickoff returns.
In 2010, Knox topped the Bears with 960 receiving yards and tied for the team lead with 51 receptions and five touchdown catches. In 2011, he led the Bears again with 727 receiving yards, despite missing the final two games following his injury, and he ranked second in the NFL with an average of 19.6 yards per reception.
Former Bears receivers coach Darryl Drake, who is now with Arizona, was asked recently whether Knox will play again.
"I don't know," Drake said on ESPN radio. "I know he's working extremely hard. I think that's in God's hands. You never say never, you never know. Will he get there? I just don't know. I hope he does because I think he's a special talent."
He went into his first season at ACU listed as a backup wide receiver, but he quickly moved into a starting role. He finished the season with 62 receptions for 1,158 yards and a school-record 17 touchdowns. He finished third in Division II in 2007 in touchdown receptions, while racking up the fourth-most receiving yards in a season in ACU history. He earned honorable mention Division II All-America honors.
While garnering more attention from defenses in 2008, Knox still racked up 56 receptions for 1,069 yards and 13 touchdowns. Knox helped Abilene Christian start 11–0 before losing in the third round of the NCAA Division II playoffs. He earned second team All-America honors in 2008.
