Theismann said, "My prayers go out to him, my heart goes out to him" A shiver went through Joe Theismann as he sat inside his Loudoun County, Va. home office Sunday, watching the Duke-Louisville NCAA tournament game. The horrific right leg injury suffered by Louisville guard Kevin Ware caused the former Washington Redskins quarterback a nightmarish flashback.
"My world just came to a complete stop, it was just a horrible, horrible thing to see happen -- I hate to see anybody have an injury that is anywhere near anything like I went through,'' Theismann told USA TODAY Sports. "All of a sudden, it's, 'Oh my God!'
"It's a terrible, terrible to see. My prayers go out to him, my heart goes out to him. I know what his family is going through.
"I have every belief that he's going to be back and better than he was.''
RECAP: Ware inspires Louisville in victory
REACTION: Louisville emotional after injury
Ware was leaping to defend a three-point shot by Duke guard Tyler Thornton midway through the first half of the NCAA Midwest Region final in Indianapolis. When Ware planted his leg, turned and suffered what looked like a broken bone in his lower right leg, Theismann was transported back to Monday night, Nov. 18, 1985. That was when Theismann, while attempting a flea flicker pass against the New York Giants, was sacked by linebackers Lawrence Taylor and Harry Carson his right leg snapped in similar horrific fashion.
The two-time Pro Bowler's 12-year NFL career ended that night.
LOPRESTI: Theismann-like injury stirs deep emotions
MORE REACTION: Outpouring of support for Kevin Ware
"This was just ugly -- a little chill went through me when I see a young man go through an injury like Kevin's,'' Theismann said. "I had an open compound fracture of my lower right leg. Both bones.
"Listening to (CBS broadcaster) Jim Nantz talk, he said that was the worst injury he's ever seen in basketball. I agree. You just don't expect to see this kind of injury in basketball. Guys get twisted or get caught a little funny and fall. But not like this.''
PHOTOS: BEST IMAGES FROM THE ELITE EIGHT 
Louisville Cardinals guard/forward Luke Hancock gives encouragement to guard Kevin Ware as Ware is taken off the court on a stretcher in the first half against the Duke Blue Devils at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Brian Spurlock, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Louisville Cardinals head coach Rick Pitino gets a hug from forward Chane Behanan and guard Russ Smith after the Midwest regional final against the Duke Blue Devils at Lucas Oil Stadium.]()
Louisville Cardinals head coach Rick Pitino gets a hug from forward Chane Behanan and guard Russ Smith after the Midwest regional final against the Duke Blue Devils at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Jamie Rhodes, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Duke Blue Devils forward Mason Plumlee shoots against the Louisville Cardinals during the Midwest regional against the Duke Blue Devils at Lucas Oil Stadium.]()
Duke Blue Devils forward Mason Plumlee shoots against the Louisville Cardinals during the Midwest regional against the Duke Blue Devils at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Jamie Rhodes, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Louisville Cardinals guard Peyton Siva shoots against Duke Blue Devils forward Mason Plumlee against the Duke Blue Devils at Lucas Oil Stadium. Louisville won 85-63.]()
Louisville Cardinals guard Peyton Siva shoots against Duke Blue Devils forward Mason Plumlee against the Duke Blue Devils at Lucas Oil Stadium. Louisville won 85-63.
Jamie Rhodes, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Louisville Cardinals center Gorgui Dieng shoots against the Duke Blue Devils in the second half during the finals of the Midwest regional at Lucas Oil Stadium.]()
Louisville Cardinals center Gorgui Dieng shoots against the Duke Blue Devils in the second half during the finals of the Midwest regional at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Brian Spurlock, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Louisville Cardinals players celebrate with the Midwest regional championship trophy and the jersey of injured teammate Kevin Ware after defeating the Duke Blue Devils at Lucas Oil Stadium.]()
Louisville Cardinals players celebrate with the Midwest regional championship trophy and the jersey of injured teammate Kevin Ware after defeating the Duke Blue Devils at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Brian Spurlock, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Louisville Cardinals players Chane Behanan, bottom, Peyton Siva, right, and Russ Smith react after an injury suffered by teammate Kevin Ware in the first half during the finals of the Midwest regional against the Duke Blue Devils at Lucas Oil Stadium.]()
Louisville Cardinals players Chane Behanan, bottom, Peyton Siva, right, and Russ Smith react after an injury suffered by teammate Kevin Ware in the first half during the finals of the Midwest regional against the Duke Blue Devils at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Brian Spurlock, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Louisville Cardinals center Gorgui Dieng wrestles for a loose ball on the floor with Duke Blue Devils guard Rasheed Sulaimon in the second half during the finals of the Midwest regional at Lucas Oil Stadium.]()
Louisville Cardinals center Gorgui Dieng wrestles for a loose ball on the floor with Duke Blue Devils guard Rasheed Sulaimon in the second half during the finals of the Midwest regional at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Brian Spurlock, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Louisville Cardinals players Russ Smith, left, Gorgui Dieng, center, and Chane Behanan react after an injury suffered by teammate Kevin Ware in the first half during the finals of the Midwest regional against the Duke Blue Devils at Lucas Oil Stadium.]()
Louisville Cardinals players Russ Smith, left, Gorgui Dieng, center, and Chane Behanan react after an injury suffered by teammate Kevin Ware in the first half during the finals of the Midwest regional against the Duke Blue Devils at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Jamie Rhodes, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Louisville Cardinals guard Peyton Siva shoots against Duke Blue Devils forward Ryan Kelly in the first half during the finals of the Midwest regional at Lucas Oil Stadium.]()
Louisville Cardinals guard Peyton Siva shoots against Duke Blue Devils forward Ryan Kelly in the first half during the finals of the Midwest regional at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Jamie Rhodes, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Duke Blue Devils guard Seth Curry holds the ball away from Louisville Cardinals guard Russ Smith in the first half during the finals of the Midwest regional at Lucas Oil Stadium.]()
Duke Blue Devils guard Seth Curry holds the ball away from Louisville Cardinals guard Russ Smith in the first half during the finals of the Midwest regional at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Jamie Rhodes, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Michigan Wolverines guard Nik Stauskas (11) shoots a three-point shot against the Florida Gators during the South regional final of the 2013 NCAA Tournament at Cowboys Stadium.]()
Michigan Wolverines guard Nik Stauskas (11) shoots a three-point shot against the Florida Gators during the South regional final of the 2013 NCAA Tournament at Cowboys Stadium.
Matthew Emmons, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Michigan Wolverines forward Mitch McGary (4) blocks the shot of Florida Gators forward Will Yeguete (15) in the first half during the South regional final of the 2013 NCAA Tournament at Cowboys Stadium.]()
Michigan Wolverines forward Mitch McGary (4) blocks the shot of Florida Gators forward Will Yeguete (15) in the first half during the South regional final of the 2013 NCAA Tournament at Cowboys Stadium.
Matthew Emmons, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Michigan Wolverines guard Corey Person (32) celebrates as his team defeats the Florida Gators 79-59 to advance to the Final Four during the South regional final of the 2013 NCAA Tournament at Cowboys Stadium.]()
Michigan Wolverines guard Corey Person (32) celebrates as his team defeats the Florida Gators 79-59 to advance to the Final Four during the South regional final of the 2013 NCAA Tournament at Cowboys Stadium.
Kevin Jairaj, USA TODAY Sports USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Michigan Wolverines guard Tim Hardaway Jr. (10) celebrates in the first half against the Florida Gators during the South regional final of the 2013 NCAA Tournament at Cowboys Stadium.]()
Michigan Wolverines guard Tim Hardaway Jr. (10) celebrates in the first half against the Florida Gators during the South regional final of the 2013 NCAA Tournament at Cowboys Stadium.
Kevin Jairaj, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Michigan Wolverines guard Tim Hardaway Jr. (10) starts the fast break defended by Florida Gators center Patric Young (4) in the second half during the South regional final of the 2013 NCAA Tournament at Cowboys Stadium. Michigan defeated Florida 79-59.]()
Michigan Wolverines guard Tim Hardaway Jr. (10) starts the fast break defended by Florida Gators center Patric Young (4) in the second half during the South regional final of the 2013 NCAA Tournament at Cowboys Stadium. Michigan defeated Florida 79-59.
Matthew Emmons, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Michigan Wolverines forward Mitch McGary (4), Nik Stauskas (11) and the bench celebrate as they defeat the Florida Gators 79-59 to advance to the Final Four during the South regional final of the 2013 NCAA Tournament at Cowboys Stadium.]()
Michigan Wolverines forward Mitch McGary (4), Nik Stauskas (11) and the bench celebrate as they defeat the Florida Gators 79-59 to advance to the Final Four during the South regional final of the 2013 NCAA Tournament at Cowboys Stadium.
Matthew Emmons, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Michigan Wolverines forward Jordan Morgan (52) tries to tip the ball loose from Florida Gators guard Scottie Wilbekin (5) during the second half of the South regional final game in the 2013 NCAA Tournament at Cowboys Stadium.]()
Michigan Wolverines forward Jordan Morgan (52) tries to tip the ball loose from Florida Gators guard Scottie Wilbekin (5) during the second half of the South regional final game in the 2013 NCAA Tournament at Cowboys Stadium.
Kevin Jairaj, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Florida Gators guard Casey Prather (24) dunks the ball between Michigan Wolverines forward Mitch McGary (4) and Glenn Robinson III (1) in the first half of the South regional final of the 2013 NCAA Tournament at Cowboys Stadium.]()
Florida Gators guard Casey Prather (24) dunks the ball between Michigan Wolverines forward Mitch McGary (4) and Glenn Robinson III (1) in the first half of the South regional final of the 2013 NCAA Tournament at Cowboys Stadium.
Matthew Emmons, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Wichita State head coach Gregg Marshall celebrates cutting down the net after beating Ohio State 70-66 in the West Regional final to advance to the Final Four.]()
Wichita State head coach Gregg Marshall celebrates cutting down the net after beating Ohio State 70-66 in the West Regional final to advance to the Final Four.
Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Related story Fullscreen ![Wichita State's Carl Hall, left, celebrates winning the West Regional final 70-66 over Ohio State.]()
Wichita State's Carl Hall, left, celebrates winning the West Regional final 70-66 over Ohio State.
Richard Mackson, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Wichita State head coach Gregg Marshall hoists the West Regional trophy after the Shockers topped second-seeded Ohio State 70-66 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.]()
Wichita State head coach Gregg Marshall hoists the West Regional trophy after the Shockers topped second-seeded Ohio State 70-66 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Wichita State players celebrate after topping Ohio State 70-66 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles to advance to the Final Four.]()
Wichita State players celebrate after topping Ohio State 70-66 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles to advance to the Final Four.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Wichita State's Demetric Williams, right, celebrates after topping Ohio State 70-66 in the West Regional final to advance to the Final Four.]()
Wichita State's Demetric Williams, right, celebrates after topping Ohio State 70-66 in the West Regional final to advance to the Final Four.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Wichita State players celebrate on the bench in the second half of the West Regional final vs. Ohio State. The Shockers won 70-66 to advance to the Final Four.]()
Wichita State players celebrate on the bench in the second half of the West Regional final vs. Ohio State. The Shockers won 70-66 to advance to the Final Four.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Ohio State guard Aaron Craft is defended by Carl Hall (22) and Cleanthony Early in the second half of the West Regional final at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.]()
Ohio State guard Aaron Craft is defended by Carl Hall (22) and Cleanthony Early in the second half of the West Regional final at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Richard Mackson, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Ohio State's Aaron Craft shakes hands with teammate Shannon Scott early in the second half of the West Regional final at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.]()
Ohio State's Aaron Craft shakes hands with teammate Shannon Scott early in the second half of the West Regional final at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Related story Fullscreen ![Wichita State's Carl Hall is elbowed in the chin by Ohio State's Deshaun Thomas as he attempted a shot in the second half.]()
Wichita State's Carl Hall is elbowed in the chin by Ohio State's Deshaun Thomas as he attempted a shot in the second half. Richard Mackson, USA TODAY Sports
