Houston Texans' Dylan Horton reflects on cancer battle and return to football
Dylan Horton was living his dream as a 23-year-old rookie defensive end for the Houston Texans when a call last October changed his life forever.
"I remember getting the call," Horton told "Good Morning America" in an interview with ABC News' Will Reeve, which aired on Monday. "I’m trying to understand everything the information he was saying and I wanted to make sure my parents were on the call, too. … So we all took the information in and at the same time together."
That call informed Horton he had been diagnosed with Stage 4 Hodgkin lymphoma, the most advanced stage of a type of cancer that forms in the lymphatic system, part of the immune system that helps protect the body from disease and infection, according to the National Cancer Institute.
The news was devastating, but Horton’s faith gave him strength.
"I feel like [it] was a lot of emotions initially," he said. "I feel like it was a common fear just to be kind of nervous. But I just know that, God's on my side, he's not going to bring me to a situation where he doesn't think I'm prepared to handle."
Horton, a 6-foot-4, 275-pound powerhouse, had started noticing symptoms like night sweats, fatigue and weight loss. After the diagnosis, his focus shifted from football to survival.
"My first goal was just getting back healthy," he explained. "And then understanding that I worked hard just to get to the NFL. It's going to be hard to stay in the NFL regardless of what I was going through. And so now I'm going through this."
That challenge included bi-weekly chemotherapy treatments through a port, but Horton says his support system made all the difference.
His parents made regular five-hour drives from their home in Frisco, Texas, to be by his side.
His brother, who lived in Chicago, visited whenever he could. Horton credits his family’s unwavering support with helping him through the grueling process.
"They know I love them," Horton said. "It was a long situation, but I felt like we stuck it out, you know?"
This fall, after completing treatment and becoming cancer-free, Horton returned to the Texans' roster.
Reflecting on his first game back, he said, "Going out in the field, hearing all the other fans cheering, it just kind of gave me goosebumps."
As the Texans prepare to face the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football, Horton’s parents will be in the stands, just a short drive from their Frisco home.
Throughout his battle, the Horton family told "GMA" they embraced a simple mantra: "Better than yesterday."
It's a mindset that helped Horton overcome cancer and fuels his return to the game he loves.
Horton's battle with cancer has also given him a new perspective on life and football.
"I feel like it's real easy to get caught up in like, 'I'm in the NFL, You know, I'm here. I made it.' But going through the situation definitely allows you to understand that life is bigger than football," he said.
Horton continued, "The best thing you can do is worry about what you can control and that's your actions in the present moment, like right now."
