This Sunday vs. the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants linebacker Mark Herzlich will look to record the 100th tackle of his NFL career. Five years ago this month, he overcame the toughest hit of his life.
In 2009, the Boston College student-athlete was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer. Doctors put his odds of survival as low as ten percent and he was told that his football career was all but over. But after undergoing an intense treatment program, Herzlich appeared on ESPN’s College GameDay on October 3, 2009 to share the news that he was cancer-free:
5 yrs ago I was blessed to be cancer free & announce it on @CollegeGameDay to remind others they have #WhatitTakes http://t.co/W0uauNiQJW
— Mark Herzlich (@MarkHerzlich) October 3, 2014
After returning to the field with Boston College for his senior year, Herzlich earned a spot on the Giants’ roster as an undrafted free agent and is currently playing his fourth season in the NFL. Now the published author of “What It Takes: Fighting for My Life and My Love of the Game,” Herzlich also serves as the Honorary Chairman for Uplifting Athletes.
On behalf of the rare disease community that we serve, Uplifting Athletes would like to congratulate Mark on reaching this five-year milestone. Thank you for remaining an inspiration to us all!
