Jermaine Wiggins, the former NFL player turned radio presenter, has sparked outrage by suggesting tragic late hockey player Adam Johnson was intentionally kicked by the opponent in the accident that killed him.

Johnson, who used to play in the NFL, died at the age of 29, playing for the Nottingham Panthers in England, after a collision with opponent Matt Petgrave of the Sheffield Steelers at the weekend.

Discussing the tragic accident on The Greg Hill show, Wiggins said: ‘I guess the other player, I’m forgetting his name, I’m drawing a blank right now but they’ve said he had some situations in the past.

‘When you look at it – look at it again – he kind of kicks him. It looks like it wasn’t an accident.’

But as Wiggins spoke, he was met with cries of derision by one of his two co-hosts: ‘No! It doesn’t look anywhere near intentional. What are you talking about? No, it doesn’t at all (look deliberate).’ 

Jermaine Wiggins (left) sparked controversy by claiming that hockey player Adam Johnson was intentionally kicked by his opponent in the accident that cost him his life 

Johnson died at the age of 29, playing for the Nottingham Panthers in England

Johnson pictured in action for the Pittsburgh Penguins NFL team back in 2017

Another co-host, Chris Curtis, then said: ‘I wanted a skate to the neck when Mac (Jones) threw that pick’- at which point fellow host Courtney Cox can be heard groaning in dismay at his crass comment.

Wiggins then continued: ‘I think you need to look at it again. If you look at the video it does kind of look like a kick.’

This type of accident has happened before in hockey. In January 2022 Teddy Balkind, who was in 10th grade at St Luke’s, a private school in Connecticut, died after having his throat cut by another player’s blade.

Read Related Also: Spirit Airlines cancels dozens of flights out of Florida

The same thing also happened to Clint Malarchuk in 1989, in an NHL game between his Buffalo Bares team and the St Louis Blues. 

Malarchuk survived but needed 300 stitches to close a six-inch wound. He lost 1.5 liters of blood.

The Panthers released an emotional statement at the weekend confirming Johnson’s death, saying: ‘The Nottingham Panthers are truly devastated to announce that Adam Johnson has tragically passed away following a freak accident at the game in Sheffield last night.

‘The Panthers would like to send our thoughts and condolences to Adam’s family, his partner, and all his friends at this extremely difficult time.

‘Everyone at the club including players, staff, management, and ownership are heartbroken at the news of Adam’s passing.’

Sheffield, meanwhile, said they would do ‘everything we can to ensure Matt Petgrave and the team are looked after in the best possible way.’

Wiggins, meanwhile, played for several teams in the NFL in a career spanning from 1999 until 2007.

He was a Super Bowl winner with the New England Patriots in 2001, lining up alongside Tom Brady for the 20-17 win against St. Louis Rams.

WEEI, broadcaster of The Greg Hill show, has been contacted for comment.