'Am I about to die?': Ricardo Lockette opens up about career-ending hit

Every now and then, we're reminded that sometimes, all it takes is one hit to end an NFL player's career.

In 2015, Ricardo Lockette provided that reminder.

An unintentional blindside hit in punt coverage against the Dallas Cowboys left the Seattle Seahawks wide receiver motionless on the field last November. In March, he announced his retirement after five seasons in the NFL.

On Tuesday, Lockette published his account of the experience in the Players' Tribune. Here's an excerpt:

I hit the ground, and I heard the sound you never want to hear. When you have a brush with death, people always say you see a light. Well, I didn't see a light. I heard a noise. You know the noise I'm talking about - like when you were a little kid, bored at a family party, and you ran your finger around the top of your auntie's wine glass. It's that weird, far-off ringing sound.

It was terrifying. I couldn't hear the crowd. I couldn't hear my teammates. That's when I knew it was bad.

The article includes many of the thoughts that raced through Lockette's head before and after the injury.

I was thinking, OK, get up. Just get up.

But I couldn't get up. My whole body was numb. I couldn't move my arms. I couldn't move my head. I couldn't talk.

All I could do was move my eyes. I was thinking:

Am I deaf?

Am I paralyzed?

What is going on?

Am I about to die?

Please, somebody come help me.

He still keeps in touch with former teammate and current retired running back Marshawn Lynch, who stayed with Lockette during his first night in the hospital.

I hear from Marshawn Lynch a lot. He texted me the other day, and I couldn't stop laughing.

He texts me, "Hey, I apologize, bruh, I left you out to dry."

I text back, "What're you talking about?"

"I left you out to dry on one of those blocks."

"???????"

A few seconds later, he sends me a video.

I tap the screen, and I see some game film from last season. I'm blocking the linebacker. I have his outside shoulder, like I'm supposed to. Marshawn usually runs off my back. But this time, he cut it back inside and got tackled.

He texts, "Damn. Sorry, bruh. I messed up."

My dude is retired and still sitting at home watching film.