Terry Bradshaw, a four-time Super Bowl champion and NFL Hall of Fame quarterback who was diagnosed with cancer months before going public about it in early October, came out to explain his hesitation.
Bradshaw disclosed on “Fox NFL Sunday” on October 2 that he had bladder cancer and a Merkel cell tumor, after fans mocked him for seeming out of breath the week before.
“I couldn’t breathe,” he reflected. “That’s when everybody notices. ‘What’s wrong with him?’ Social media went, ‘Get rid of him. He needs to be off the air. He’s an embarrassment.’ And I was like, ‘Embarrassment? I got cancer.’”
“I didn’t talk about it because I didn’t want pity,” Bradshaw said on NBC’s Today. “I didn’t talk about it because a lot of celebrities — unfortunately, I’m one of those — when they say this, I think the perception around America with all the millions of people is, ‘Aw, look at him. Bless his heart. He has cancer. Well, my husband died of cancer! My kids are…’ I didn’t want that. It took a long time before I told my family.”
“I wasn’t scared,” Bradshaw said of the initial diagnosis.
“Really?” Smith responded.
“No. You know what, Harry? I don’t know why; I never was scared,” Bradshaw replied.
“I mean, you’re Terry Bradshaw. You’re bigger than life,” Smith told him.
“Well, cancer didn’t think so,” Bradshaw laughed. “I don’t think cancer cares. Listen, cancer shows no favoritism.”
Bradshaw threw what is probably the most famous and unforgettable pass in pro football history, the “Immaculate Reception,” which was called the “miracle of all miracles” by famed announcer Curt Gowdy and led to the beginning of the Pittsburgh Steeler dynasty.
Bradshaw attributed his resilience in dealing with the sickness to his Christian religion, saying, “As a man of faith, as a Christian, my attitude was, well, if I go, I’m okay.” If I stay, I’m okay.”
He had been treated for bladder cancer, which he had been diagnosed with in November 2021, and was declared cancer-free before having “nerve pain in my neck and shoulder.” He remembered thinking, “I’ve injured my neck before, so this isn’t uncommon.”
A tumor was detected and had to be removed; Bradshaw acknowledged that he had first concealed his cancer from his family. But he commended his wife, stating, “I can’t put into words how thankful I am for her. Seriously. I can’t imagine not holding her hand when we take off on a plane or when we land or when we snuggle up when we’re in bed together. I look at her and she doesn’t know I’m looking at her, and I’m so thankful now I’m getting emotional.”