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One of the unique things about pro athlete injuries is that they are often happening on video for everyone to see. It’s hard to argue that you weren’t injured on the job.If you see this happen it’s hard to argue that this didn’t happen during a work activity.
Because of this, I was surprised when a search on the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission website seemed to show that since 2019 there has been only one case filed against the Chicago Fire team by an injured player. From a quick internet search, they have had a bunch of players miss time with significant knee injuries. And others have of course sustained injuries to other body parts.
I also searched the name of a bunch of opposing teams and didn’t see a case filed against any of them for injuries sustained while playing in Chicago.
By comparison, the Chicago Bears have had approximately 20 different players file cases against them in 2025 alone for multiple injuries including five cases filed by former starter, Teven Jenkins, who made over $3 million.
By comparison most professional soccer players in the MLS make a fraction of that amount, with many under $100,000 per year. In other words, if they sustain a significant injury, the settlement value of the work comp case might be worth more money than they make in a whole season.
For a lot of these players, a career ending injury would not only be devastating emotionally, but also financially. If you are lucky enough to be a decent wage earner, unless you can get a coaching or other job that pays close to the same, you might be facing a significant wage loss. Illinois workers’ compensation law covers this. A career ending injury could be worth many hundreds of thousands of dollars.
And to be clear, not only do Chicago Fire players get these protections, but so do any visiting players who get hurt while playing a game in Illinois. And if you originally signed with the Fire and got traded, you could still bring the case in Illinois even if you were hurt playing for the new team as long as you are on the original contract.
So the stakes are really high. I question if the club or someone else is trying to pressure players from not exercising their legal rights. Even the union contract can’t prevent them from doing so.
Of note, it seems to be the same issue with the Chicago Stars, Chicago’s women’s professional soccer league team. And it’s probably even worse for them as there are less teams and the players make significantly less.
Whether you are a pro soccer player or a “regular” worker in Illinois, work comp benefits are your right. Bringing a case is not a lawsuit, it’s a claim for benefits just like claiming health insurance, unemployment, vacation pay or anything else you have a right to.
Bonus tip. Most training injuries can be covered to. You work out for your job. It benefits your employer. So it doesn’t just have to be an injury we can see on video from a game. It can happen in practice or private workouts too.
