For an athlete, their physical prowess is everything. They treat their bodies like temples to get the optimum performance required and perform in each and every game for the spectators and the franchise. Often, it takes a toll, but in some cases, the price to pay is far greater than expected.
In the case of Trent Williams, an offensive tackle for the San Francisco 49ers, it was cancer, probably the worst of the lot when it comes to career and life-threatening diseases.
What cancer did Trent Williams have?
In a recently surfaced video, the 49ers star discusses his condition during an interview. He opens out about the difficulties, his escape from them, and how they impacted his playing career.
In the interview, Williams said, “Football is the least of your worries at this point. I think you need to get closer to your girls. It looks pretty serious, I don’t know how long you got left. You need to get your affairs in order.”
The 37-year-old also talked about how cancer affected him. He had a rare form of skin cancer, which was very hard to treat for the doctors on his team. He revealed that his disease almost felt like an out-of-body experience that didn’t feel real at all.
Other NFL stars to have battled cancer
Unfortunately, in the world of the NFL, Trent Williams is not the only one to have battled the deadly disease. Over the years, plenty of names have emerged who have faced the condition during their playing years and dealt with it successfully.
Some of the players who have shared their experiences with this condition include Bills legend Jim Kelly, Chiefs’ 2014 star Eric Berry, James Conner, and Brandon Bolden, among others. Among these athletes, James Conner likely faced the most severe form of cancer, posing a significant threat to his life. In an excerpt from the interview, he specifies, “The doctor said, you got about a week, if you didn’t get this treated, you had about a week, the rate this thing was growing.” The only positive news to come out of this is the fact that all of the players mentioned have recovered unscathed.
This can be attributed to the fact that NFL players undergo regular and rigorous health checkups, which help flag any underlying conditions instantly. This helps with early diagnosis and prevents the disease from further deteriorating their bodies.
What are your thoughts on NFL athletes facing adverse health conditions? Let us know in the comments.
