Former Philadelphia Eagles captain Chris Maragos made the most of his NFL career, going from undrafted free agent to All-Pro special teams player.
He might have done even more as a player, too, if not for a career-ending knee injury in 2017. That injury is at the heart of a highly publicized lawsuit in which Maragos is suing his doctors for “medical negligence.” According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, after two weeks of testimony in a Philadelphia courtroom, the judge is expected to hand the civil case over to the jury on Monday so they can begin deliberations.
The 36-year-old Maragos, who played four seasons with the Eagles, injured his knee during a punt return in October 2017. The initial MRI indicated a torn posterior cruciate ligament and other damage. Acclaimed sports orthopedic surgeon James Bradley reconstructed his PCL. But in the year following the surgery, the meniscus in Maragos’ knee shifted out of place. He was unable to play in 2018. The Eagles released him in early 2019 and he retired later that year.
Maragos’ suit alleges that Bradley should have repaired the injured meniscus when he did the PCL surgery. The suit also names Rothman Orthopaedics Institute, which oversee the Eagles orthopedics care. He also alleges that doctors were negligent in overseeing his rehab, worsening the meniscus condition.
Now, Maragos is considering a knee replacement. He is in pain and limps. His attorney, Dion Rassias, told the jury, “These people were all asleep. They lost it, they were not paying attention to this man.”
Attorneys representing Bradley and Rothman say that any further surgery on Maragos’ knee would have made his condition worse.
Among the people to testify in the trial were former Eagles quarterback Nick Foles and tight end Trey Burton.
The lawsuit did not specify a monetary amount, but a financial analyst testified during that Maragos could have earned at least an additional $8.7 million had his career gone through 2022.
There’s much for the jury to consider, and the timing could not be any stranger, with jury deliberations possibly beginning the day after the Eagles face the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII.
About Arthur Weinstein
Arthur spends his free time traveling around the U.S. to sporting events, state and national parks, and in search of great restaurants off the beaten path.