Josh Paschall's football career took a huge hit when he was in college. He was diagnosed with malignant melanoma, a type of skin cancer, on his left leg.
“Obviously, you're going to be depressed the first time you hear it. I'd be lying if I said it was easy at first,” the current Detroit Lions linebacker said in a recent interview with Fox News Digital.
But he returned and pushed himself to become a second-round pick in 2022. I feel this is destiny.
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Detroit Lions defensive end Josh Paschall, 93, runs during the NFL game between the Detroit Lions and the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on October 20, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Bailey Hillesheim/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
“It's really great to be around such great leadership. Our front office, our head coach, this is the best team I've ever been a part of… This is a great experience. This is This is the group I've been closest to since I started playing soccer.''This group, this team, just loves each other and has overcome adversity, but has embraced this city and its culture of grit over obstacles and adversity. That's the identity of this team,” Pascal said.
This last sentence applies to Mr. Pascal's T. As he said of his cancer diagnosis, “Honestly, it's the worst thing that can happen to you in your life.”
But head coach Dan Campbell keeps everything in perspective.
“Coach Campbell always says this: Everyone in this room is here for a reason.”I feel like the reason I’m here is because I went through adversity. Honestly, it's the worst thing that can happen in your life. And I am grateful that the Lord has guided me. I got through that whole situation,” Pascal said. “But everyone in this room, everyone in the team room at team meetings, whether it's the coaches or the players, they've been through adversity and they know how to overcome it and they're all the same. I feel like he has a great personality. ”
Detroit Lions defensive end Josh Paschall during player introductions before the start of the NFL football game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on January 7, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. 93 years old) rushes onto the field. (Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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Earlier this year, Paschall represented the Jimmy V Foundation as part of the NFL's “My Cause My Cleats” campaign. He learned more about the foundation last year and wanted to be part of the team.
“It's something my brother put on my radar and I did a little research on it and found his famous words 'never give up' in his ESPY speech. I was very motivated and moved by those words. It made me want to work with them,” Pascal said.
After his diagnosis, he felt depressed about his football career, but said his family, friends and faith “pulled me through it.”
“And that was an opportunity for me to use the mantra that Jimmy V did, 'never give up.' That kept me fighting because I think that mindset carries over into everything in life. It's also directly related to when you're fighting cancer.”
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Josh Paschall during a preseason NFL football game between the Detroit Lions and Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on August 25, 2023 in Charlotte, North Carolina. 93 years old). (John Byram/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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Now, Paschall may be less than two months away from leading the Lions to their first-ever Super Bowl.
“As a better player, I just want to get better. I'm going to want to play my best football for January. So we can continue to grow every week and continue to perform. Both teams are playing great and we're letting them do it.''We put up too many points in this game and we have to bounce back, but the important thing for a team like ours is how. You have to get back on your feet.”
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