James Conner telling his story on " The Ellen DeGeneres Show."
Photo by Michael Rozman, Warner Bros.
W ell before the University of Pittsburgh football player’ s
diagnosis of Hodgkin’ s lymphoma last November, James Conner was on the media’ s radar as one of the top running backs in college football. Now he is known for something bigger.
Posting impressive stats like 36 touchdowns and 2,641 rushing yards already in his career, plus winning ACC Player of the Year in 2014, is only half the James Conner story.
Since the public announcement of his health status at a press conference midway through the football season last year, Conner has shared his journey and used it to encourage others, showing that his strength of character and determination extend beyond the football field.
“ I think everyone who battles cancer should be treated the way I was treated— like they are special too. I am now trying to use what I learned during this battle to help others who have their own battles they must face,” says Conner.
The young athlete endured six months of chemotherapy treatments every two weeks. Undeterred by the side effects, he rallied to participate in as many team practices as possible at Pitt, doing as much as the doctors would allow and unwilling to let go of his dream to play football.
Conner says one of the biggest surprises that’ s come from this experience has been the overwhelming support from the community, including people he’ s never met, even celebrities.
“ I have boxes of mail with so many great cards and letters that really helped me get through six months of chemotherapy. I even got a card from President Bill Clinton,” he says.
When Conner broke the bad news to his Pitt teammates last fall, he showed an inspirational video of Kansas City Chiefs safety Eric Berry, who had returned to football after his battle with the same type of cancer Conner was diagnosed with.
Berry caught wind of the running back’ s story from a scout and personally called him.
In April, Conner was a guest on“ The Ellen DeGeneres Show.” In typical Ellen fashion, she surprised him with a visit from Berry. At the time, Conner was still undergoing treatments and was not yet certain that the chemo would be successful.
“ I think everyone who battles cancer should be treated the way I was treated— like they are special too. I am now trying to use what I learned during this battle to help others who have their own battles they must face.”
“ My goal is still the same; it’ s just a little postponed. Hopefully, I can still achieve that dream of the NFL,” Conner told Ellen during the interview.
In June, Conner got the long-awaited call. His cancer is gone. He won the battle.
Erie has rallied around him. Even Millcreek’ s Superintendent of Schools, William Hall, wrote Conner a personal letter encouraging him and sharing his own experience battling cancer.
“ No matter where football and life take me, Millcreek will always be home. It’ s where I grew up with my older brothers, it’ s where I first learned to play football. In fact, my mom still has the # 34 Walnut Creek jersey I wore in seventh and eighth grade,” says Conner.
He travels back to the area whenever he can, visiting family and friends, and says the teachers and coaches he encountered while growing up here helped a lot along the way and enabled him to play football at Pitt.
Conner is paying forward the love and support he received during his six-month fight whenever he gets the chance.
This summer Cathedral Prep wrestler Ian Malesiewski was injured during a match. Conner took time to visit him and posted a picture of the two on Instagram with the message,“ I thought I was a beast until I met you, bro. You’ ve inspired me so much and everyone else!”
Conner has been working hard to be ready for this year’ s season at Pitt and the highly anticipated season opener against Villanova on September 3. But it’ s the second game of the season, against Penn State on September 10, that really has fans ready for Conner’ s comeback and hoping to see # connerstrong. n
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