by: Nick Schultz 35 minutes ago NickSchultz_7
While speaking with the Dallas Morning News , Cowboys owner Jerry Jones revealed a decade-long battle with cancer. He credited an experimental drug that helped him beat Stage 4 melanoma.
That revelation led to another confirmation from Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer . He recalled his own cancer journey Wednesday while speaking with reporters.
Schottenheimer received a thyroid cancer diagnosis when he was 28 years old. At the time, he was working under his father, Marty , with the San Diego Chargers – one year after he was fired as Washington head coach.
A reporter asked Schottenheimer if Jones’ announcement inspired him to go public with his own battle. He said it’s not something he chose to keep private. He simply had rarely gotten a question about it. But like Jones’ situation, it could have had a few different outcomes.
“I don’t think I’ve ever kept it from anybody – I don’t think, maybe, I’ve ever been asked,” Schottenheimer said Wednesday. “I think it was just Jerry and how powerful his story is. Again, I’m not comparing my story to Jerry’s or anybody else. It’s my story. Like I started out with, mine was a lot less significant and serious than other people’s.
“But it just speaks to, again, here I sit and it could have gone a lot of different directions just like Jerry’s story could have gone a lot of different directions. But it’s nothing that I keep private. It’s hard to keep private when you do have the scar on your neck. But it’s one of those things that my heart does go out to people that have to deal with cancer or any disease that can be deadly and take a turn for the worst.”
How Dan Snyder impacted Brian Schottenheimer’s journey
When Brian Schottenheimer received his thyroid cancer diagnosis, he was in his second season with the San Diego Chargers, working under his father. But when he got the call, Marty made one of his own – to his former boss, Dan Snyder .
Snyder had previously dealt with thyroid cancer, as well, and Brian Schottenheimer said he didn’t know that at the time. But when his father called the now-former Washington owner, he didn’t hesitate to step in and help. As a result, Brian headed to the Mayo Clinic .