I tore mine in 1984. Played football with it torn (and a Lennix Hill brace) since they weren't doing ACL reconstructs yet where I lived. I tore my other one in 1995 playing basketball and then had both knee ACL's reconstructed in 1995 by the Indianapolis Colt's doctor at the time (met Flipper Anderson in rehab). My college basketball playing oldest daughter had both of her ACL's reconstructed and my basketball playing middle daughter had one of her ACL's reconstructed.
Your ACL will never be stronger compared to your previously healthy ACL. But it can be pretty close and you can continue to play sports at a high level. My surgeries, as well as my daughters surgeries, were all done using the patella tendon graph but the hamstring is also a good option with each having its own advantages.The current Colt's doctor still leans towards using the patella tendon but I have friends that have used the hamstring with good success.
