Nebraska superfan Jack Hoffman, who gained fame for his spring game touchdown, has passed away at the age of 19 after battling brain cancer.
Since October, Hoffman has been fighting new and aggressive tumors.
Nebraska Cornhuskers superfan Jack Hoffman, who gained national attention for his spring game touchdown run at the age of 7 and was battling cancer, has passed away at the age of 19.
Kylie Dockter, Executive Director of Team Jack Foundation, announced that Hoffman passed away from brain cancer on Wednesday. He had been fighting new and more aggressive tumors since late last year.
The Team Jack Foundation announced the passing of Jack Hoffman, their courageous namesake, who fought a long and hard battle with brain cancer. Despite his journey, Jack inspired countless lives and left a legacy of hope, strength, and resilience.
"Jack's legacy will endure through the work of the Team Jack Foundation, the lives of the children and families helped, and the hope he inspired in millions."
In 2011, Hoffman was diagnosed with brain cancer, and his parents established a foundation to fund research aimed at ending pediatric brain cancer.
In 2020, Andy, Hoffman's father, was diagnosed with brain cancer and passed away on March 1, 2021, at the age of 42.
The foundation has raised more than $12.6 million since 2013.
During Nebraska's 2013 spring game, Hoffman went viral after the coaching staff invited him to run a play in the fourth quarter. He scored a 69-yard touchdown and became the talk of the sports world for several days.
He formed a friendship with running back Rex Burkhead and later visited then-President Obama, who presented him with a new football and expressed pride in him.
"Hey there, buddy! Let's give a shout-out to Jesus and say hi," Burkhead wrote on X.
At Atkinson High School, Hoffman played football and graduated in May. He pursued pre-law studies at the University of Nebraska-Kearney.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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