5 NFL stars who survived cancer and made brave comeback
When an NFL player receives an unfortunate cancer diagnosis, it affects them in the same way as it would any other human being. Cancer can be a terrifying and life-threatening situation for anyone that can completely change the entire course of one's daily life.
While cancer can, sometimes, completely derail an NFL player's career, and understandably so, there have been other times when a player has been able to win their battle against cancer and sometimes even make a triumphant return to the football field. Here are five NFL players who were amazingly able to do so.
5 NFL cancer survivors who later returned to the football field
#1 - Trent Williams
Trent Williams received troubling news during the 2013 NFL season when his doctors noticed a cancerous growth on his scalp. A few years later, following the 2018 season, Williams went in for what he believed would be a simple procedure, which turned into much worse news. The cancer was growing deep in his skin, and alarmingly, it was approaching his brain.
Williams went through multiple surgeries, including a long and complicated recovery process with a complete restructuring of his scalp. He sat out the entire 2019 season before being traded to the San Francisco 49ers, where he made his triumphant return.
#2 - James Conner
James Conner was rehabbing from a completely different injury while attending Pitt for his college football career when he was blindsided by the terrible news. He was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma and wasn't sure if he would survive it, let alone continue his football career.
Conner’s fight and battle back on the field led to the ultimate payoff in 2017, when Mike Tomlin gave James a call he’d never forget.
Less than two years after his cancer diagnosis, James Conner was drafted by his hometown Pittsburgh Steelers. This video says it all. 🖤💛 https://t.co/QafUuDvnn4
After winning his battle with cancer, Conner slipped lower in the NFL Draft due to his diagnosis before getting a call from the Pittsburgh Steelers, who were just down the road from where he played college football.