JaDarian Price didn’t get to where he is by chance. Growing up as the oldest in a single-parent household, he had to be more than just a big brother—he had to be a second parent at times. When his father wasn’t around, JaDarian stepped up, juggling the weight of responsibility while still chasing his dreams on the football field. But there’s a lot more to his story than just being a reliable sibling. Let’s dive into the tough but inspiring journey that shaped him.

As we previously mentioned, JaDarian was raised by a single mom since JaDarian didn’t meet his father until he was twelve years old. However, the star RB has had a number of fatherly figures throughout his youth. His coaches were the best of all of them. Denison DC and recruitment experts Todd Wallis and Charlie Means are the first few names that spring to mind when discussing fatherly figures in JaDarian Price’s life.

Both Wallis and Means were adamant about how excellent Price was as a young man. Though they may sound cliche, their remarks were sincere. “As good as he is a player, he’s even better as a human. He’s a great kid and fantastic student. Jadarian is soft-spoken. It would be really easy to be verbose and tell everyone how good he is, but if they see him play, then they already know,” said Wallis. Where Means stated, “He is a phenomenal football player, but he’s an even better young man. He’s a high-character, role-model kid. He’s the guy you want your daughter to date.”

And for that, JaDarian Price’s mom, Jessica Butler, deserves all the credit in the world. Raising three kids, including a future football star, wasn’t easy, but she gave it her all. Still, life had a way of throwing curveballs, and both JaDarian and Jessica had to face some tough realities—ones they couldn’t control.

The dark phase in JaDarian Price’s life

Price learned early on that selflessness wasn’t just important—it was essential. When he was just 12, his mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. Despite the diagnosis, with help from his oldest, she raised her younger daughters, Kzaria, now 17, and Lyricah, 13, as a single mom, showing them what true strength looks like. “They’re my rock,” JaDarian shared. “I’ve seen how strong women can be, and that’s shaped how I treat them. I’m really big on that—treating women right.”

Price came into the world when Jessica Butler was just 17. His father wasn’t in the picture early on, as his parents’ relationship didn’t work out. But everything changed when Jessica was diagnosed with breast cancer. Suddenly, it was all hands on deck—Price’s father, grandparents, grandmother, and even his uncle stepped in to help care for the kids while Jessica faced 16 grueling rounds of chemotherapy. It truly became a family effort to support each other through the tough times.

Change is never easy for kids, especially when it means being cared for by people they don’t know. It’s a lot to process, and for Jessica Butler’s three kids, it was overwhelming. But for Jessica, it was a matter of life or death, and those changes had to happen.

“I was devastated,” she admitted. “I didn’t want them to worry, but I didn’t know what was going to happen. In that moment, I tried to teach them everything I could think of because I wasn’t sure if I was going to live or die.” It was a heartbreaking reality but one she faced with courage for the sake of her kids.

Price was the only one old enough to fully grasp what was happening. He had seen enough school programs honoring breast cancer survivors to know his mom would either beat the disease or be remembered as a warrior who fought bravely. Through it all, Price found his own ways to cope—channeling his emotions into football and stepping up to care for his younger sisters during his mom’s toughest battles. Thankfully, Jessica is now a proud cancer survivor.

These days, you’ll often spot her cheering JaDarian on from the stands. And who knows? Maybe we’ll see the whole Price family showing their support at the Orange Bowl on Tuesday!