Terry Bradshaw was the golden-armed leader of the Pittsburgh Steelers dynasty, a two-time Super Bowl MVP, a four-time champion, and the first quarterback to ever throw for more than 300 yards in a Super Bowl (Super Bowl XIII, 1979) before he rose to prominence as one of the most recognisable football voices on television. Throughout the 1970s, Bradshaw, who was renowned for his reckless deep ball and unwavering grit, helped turn a struggling team into an NFL juggernaut.

At the age of 76, the Hall of Famer still defies expectations by not only surviving the spotlight but also overcoming life’s most difficult obstacles with the same combination of faith, tenacity, and unvarnished honesty that made him a legend in the first place.

In an interview with Lou Canellis on FOX 32 Chicago’s Sports Overtime, Terry Bradshaw talked candidly about his greatest personal struggle to date: his gruelling fight against cancer, and the support of his family and faith. The chat instantly became emotional when Lou Canellis urged Bradshaw to think back to 2021, “Terry, did battling cancer change you as a person?”, the year he received a bladder and skin cancer diagnosis.

“It brought mortality front and center,” Bradshaw admitted. He opened up about how cancer made him face life in a new way. “I think more now of my life, and I think more of living,” he stated. Bradshaw attributed his ability to persevere through his darkest moments to his wife Tammy and his faith. “I’m a man of faith, I’m a Christian, and my faith is what I leaned on. And I’ve got an awesome wife. She’s the one that makes me go to the doctor — she’s the one that saved my life.”

Bradshaw disclosed that his bladder cancer was discovered as a result of Tammy’s insistence on having a checkup. On the advice of a family friend, a routine trip to Yale New Haven Hospital took a drastic turn when medical professionals realised something was amiss. Bradshaw claimed, “They found microscopic blood in my urine,” even though he hadn’t personally seen it. Bladder cancer was confirmed via a biopsy. Following six weeks of intense treatment, he continues to undergo prophylactic operations every six months since, as he stated, “bladder cancer spreads fast.”

But the bladder cancer was just the beginning of the fight. Bradshaw started having excruciating neck spasms while undergoing treatment. The remembrance made him wince. “It hurt so bad,” he muttered. Merkel cell carcinoma, an aggressive and uncommon type of skin cancer that affects just 2% of people globally, was discovered as a lump beneath his left jaw on an MRI. Bradshaw says the area is still hurting even after doctors removed 27 lymph nodes: “I’ve got a hole here,” he said, gesturing to his neck. “But I’m alive and well, and thank God for that.”

Even when fans began to notice that Bradshaw was having trouble breathing during broadcasts in late 2021, he continued to be a regular on FOX NFL Sunday throughout the crisis. Critics criticised him on social media, calling him an “embarrassment” and calling for his retirement. However, only a few were aware of the true struggle he was engaged in behind the scenes.

Terry Bradshaw’s new chapter after cancer

Bradshaw can now declare with pride that he is cancer-free, but his struggle is far from ending.

“I still go back every six months for preventative treatments,” he said. Despite having defeated two cancers, Bradshaw acknowledges that he still gets anxious when it comes time for follow-up. “For the follow-ups, I was nervous,” he stated. “Then the phone rings, and your wife goes, ‘Good news, you’re cancer-free,’ and you’re like, ‘Phew.'”

Bradshaw’s characteristic optimism has remained unflinching throughout everything. He told AARP, “I’m a milder guy now. More involved with the kids. I think I’m a better husband.” He has launched himself into life with even greater urgency, visiting Canada, France, Ireland, and Scotland. “Maybe quietly, subconsciously, I’m thinking, ‘I need to travel more in case I die,'” he admitted, laughing.

Bradshaw also discussed the reasons why he initially concealed his diagnosis. He stated, “I didn’t talk about it because I didn’t want pity,” on TODAY. “Unfortunately, when celebrities say they have cancer, the perception is, ‘Bless his heart.’ I didn’t want that. I’m tougher than that.”

Even strength has its limits, though. Fans attacked Bradshaw on social media after he appeared to struggle on-air in 2022; some even demanded that he retire. As open as ever, Bradshaw remembered, “I couldn’t breathe. That’s when everybody notices. ‘What’s wrong with him?’ Social media went, ‘Get rid of him. He’s an embarrassment.’ And I was like, ‘Embarrassment? I got cancer.”

Over 30 years into his broadcasting career, Bradshaw still maintains his position on FOX NFL Sunday in spite of the criticism. Fans’ calls for retirement haven’t dimmed his spirit, but they have reminded the football legend of the one thing that matters most: health.