Washington WR Jahan Dotson, is a first-team All-Big Ten selection, a semifinalist for the Walter Camp Award, and was named the team’s 2021 MVP during. Dotson also won offensive MVP after making 91 receptions for 1,182 yards and 12 touchdowns in the regular season at Penn State. But his NFL career has been a roller coaster. Right after joining Washington Commanders in 2022, he was sidelined for 5 games in the regular season because of his hamstring injury. After 2 seasons, he was traded to the Eagles. 

Even though the wide receiver wasn’t happy with the decision, he moved forward with this saying, “But at the end of the day, you know it’s a business.” And his parents have been a great support during this transition.

Who are Al and Robin Dotson? 

Jahan Dotson was born on March 22, 2000, in Newark, New Jersey, to Al and Robin Dotson. Due to overcrowding in the normal facility room, Robin gave birth to Jahan in the examining room. Robin and Al moved from East Orange, New Jersey, to Nazareth to give their son a safer place to grow up. Even though they still lived in New Jersey, Al and Robin would travel an hour and a half each way to work.

His father always wanted him to do something big in sports. Al made him promise to not quit his middle school basketball team to keep Jahan involved in sports. So, it’s fair to say Jahan Dotson is an NFL star today because of the love and dedication of his father.

The WR also accepted it, saying, “He’s been like my rock. My biggest motivator. My biggest critic.” saying he is the best dad you could ask for. And ever since Jahan was a kid, Al believed in him more than himself. He is also blessed to have a mother who fought the battle of cancer every day and still chooses to support her son to the fullest. 

Jahan Dotson’s Mom Robin: A Cancer Survivor 

His mom was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2019, just before Jahan’s sophomore year at Penn State and his first full season as a starter. She watched her son’s first two touchdown catches from her hospital bed. Robin didn’t tell jersey No. 5 at first to avoid distracting him. And when the WR got to know about it, he was devastated. And he knew his mother’s health was his priority. After years of intense therapy and medication, she was cancer-free for some time. But then the myeloma came back and in 2021 Jahan talked about it and said, “It’s not my mom’s fight. It’s our fight.”  After getting relief, she became sick again in early 2024 in Nazareth and went through a 2 week treatment in Pennsylvania hospital before defeating the cancer.

Knowing how much cancer patients go through Jahan Dotson never misses making people aware of the steps they should take to fight it. In December 2022, Dotson visited a nonprofit community health center in Alexandria and made people aware of cancer screening. When talking to people there Jahan mentioned, “Being that my mom was diagnosed with cancer, I feel that it’s my duty to really reach out, find out more info about cancer, be able to help out.” he wishes to support everyone who is fighting the same battle. Dotson also works with the Crucial Catch campaign which raises money to provide cancer screening for underprivileged people.

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