Jack Hoffman, the young cancer patient who won the affection of Nebraska football fans and touched the hearts of many across the nation when he made a touchdown run at the Cornhuskers’ 2013 spring game, has passed away at the age of 19.
Kylie Dockter, executive director of the Team Jack Foundation, announced that Hoffman lost his battle with brain cancer early Wednesday at his home in Atkinson, Nebraska. Recent medical evaluations in October indicated the emergence of new and more aggressive tumors.
Initially diagnosed in 2011, Hoffman’s parents, Andy and Bri Hoffman, were pivotal in founding the Team Jack Foundation, which focuses on advancing research in pediatric brain cancer.
It is worth mentioning that Andy Hoffman was also diagnosed with brain cancer in 2020 and tragically passed away at the age of 42 on March 1, 2021.
Jack was an enthusiastic supporter of Nebraska football, and soon after his diagnosis, he formed a friendship with Rex Burkhead, a Huskers running back who later played in the NFL.
The country was introduced to Jack during Nebraska’s 2013 spring game when the coaching staff invited him to participate in the fourth quarter. Clad in a small Burkhead uniform, he received a handoff from quarterback Taylor Martinez and galloped 69 yards into the end zone.
Celebration erupted as players from both teams ran onto the field to follow him across the goal line, lifting him onto their shoulders amidst the cheers of a crowd that exceeded 60,000. His incredible touchdown run gained monumental exposure, with clips circulated by ESPN and national news outlets, garnering millions of views on YouTube.
Shortly after his memorable game, Jack and his family were honored with a 15-minute meeting with President Barack Obama in the Oval Office. During this encounter, the President gifted Jack a new football and expressed pride in his achievements.
A few months after the spring game, Jack’s inspiring touchdown earned the title of “Best Moment in Sports” at the 2013 ESPY Awards presented by ESPN.
Jack continued to display his love for football by playing on the Atkinson High School team. He graduated this past May and was pursuing a pre-law degree at the University of Nebraska-Kearney, leaving behind a legacy of inspiration and hope in the face of adversity.
