Trent Williams, the San Francisco 49ers’ standout left tackle, has been a critical component of the team’s success this season, with the team now leading the NFC West at 8-3. Williams’ path to success, however, has been marked by considerable hurdles, including a battle with cancer.
Born on July 19, 1988, in Longview, Texas, Williams attended Longview High School and later the University of Oklahoma. He was drafted fourth overall by the Washington Commanders in the 2010 NFL Draft and played with them until 2019 before joining the 49ers in 2020. Throughout his NFL career, Williams has earned first-team All-Pro honors twice and made the Pro Bowl 10 times.
In 2019, towards the end of his time with Washington, Williams underwent surgery to remove a growth from his head, diagnosed as dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP). This cancer was deep in the skin and creeping toward his brain, posing a serious threat to his health at just 30 years old.
The growth was initially noticed in 2013, but Williams claimed that the Washington medical staff downplayed its seriousness. Frustrated with their handling of the situation, Williams requested to be released or traded. Even now, he reflects on the impact of that moment, uncertain about his future after the diagnosis.
Williams didn’t receive a clear timetable from doctors, who only mentioned that it could be his “last days.” Every time he enters a locker room or puts on his helmet, he recalls the doctor’s words, urging him to get his affairs in order.
Pretty crazy – #49ers All-Pro OT Trent Williams revealed he didn’t know how much time he had left to live after learning his cancer diagnosis 💔
"Every time I go into a locker room, every time I put the helmet on. I flash back and think about the time where Doc said, ‘Get your… pic.twitter.com/IJ16Xa9vWV
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) December 1, 2023
His main concern during this challenging time was his family. The gravity of the situation led him to believe he needed to draw closer to his daughters. The surgeries in 2019 involved removing 30% of his scalp, skin grafts from his thigh, and numerous stitches. Remarkably, he avoided chemotherapy, which could have limited his life to 15 more years.
Despite the hardships, Williams didn’t have to retire from football. After being sidelined for eight months, he returned to the field, continuing his remarkable career. His resilience in overcoming cancer adds a powerful chapter to his journey, both on and off the football field.
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