Houston Texans safety Andre Hal announced Friday he has been diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma by team doctors. He is undergoing further testing at MD Anderson.
Hal – who is entering his fifth season in the NFL – released a statement, which read in part:
“My faith in God and the support from my family, friends, teammates and coaches will see me through this difficult time I will not let this diagnosis stop me from fulfilling my dreams and I do not want anyone to feel sorry for me. I know how to beat this and I will beat it.”
Texans offensive lineman David Quessenberry – who played his final NFL game last season – was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s T-lymphoblastic lymphoma in 2014.
The remainder of the team is also rallying to Hal’s side.
Head Coach Bill O’Brien said:
“The news of Andre Hal’s diagnosis weighs heavy on the hearts of everyone in the Houston Texans family. Andre epitomizes what it means to be a Houston Texan through his leadership, community involvement and team-first attitude. We are confident that Andre’s resiliency and infectious positivity, along with treatment and care from the best medical community in the world, will guide him through his recovery. The entire Texans organization is behind Andre and his family during this difficult time and we look forward to his eventual return to the team.”
JJ Watt tweeted, “One of the best in the business in and off the field. A truly great man, teammate and friend. We’ll be with you every step of the way brother.”