Matt Hoffman, Football Star, Sacrifices Season To Save Cancer Patient With Stem Cell Donation

For Rowan University football star Matt Hoffman, sitting out his junior year was something he was willing to do to save a life.

The athlete sacrificed his junior season to donate his bone stem cells to help Texas cancer patient Warren Sallach, CBS Evening News reports.

A year later, the pair were able to meet for the first time -- at the Gagliardi Trophy ceremony, where Hoffman was nominated for an award.

WATCH:

Comments

[thebuzzmanisone]

08:26 PM on 12/25/2010

parents did a good job raising him

[KenClay]

01:21 PM on 12/25/2010

True Hero!

[mumi009]

02:25 PM on 12/24/2010

Everyone can be a "hero" and become a stem cell donor. Get registered and and typed!

"...And whoever saves a life, it is considered as if he saved an entire world..."

- Talmud

[Dbos]

01:26 PM on 12/24/2010

A real star athlete

[Nelson Jacobsen]

12:10 PM on 12/24/2010

Great leadership by example from this man.

[youngbuck]

04:32 AM on 12/23/2010

What a great guy !

[BlueCashew]

09:14 AM on 12/22/2010

I'd be proud to have a son like Matt.

[BMLT]

07:28 PM on 12/21/2010

What a beautiful story, the Best Present one can give ...a LIFE! The story really touched my heart since I have experienced one such thing in my family. All our hopes for the full road to recovery. And to you Matt, as someone here said, you are a real mensch....may your example beget more . Thank you for your example.

[Jay818]

05:54 PM on 12/21/2010

Did he get to play again and I hope the NCAA gave him that year back in eligibility.

[mynamesyow]

02:18 PM on 12/21/2010

Beautiful. This guy just made my day reading this...its nice to know there's still people like that out there...Hear Hear!

[signgrrl]

01:22 PM on 12/21/2010

i literally got chills reading this.

[tonedaf]

10:43 AM on 12/21/2010

Why hasn't the mainstream press given this selfless young man the same press coverage Tim Tebow got during the 2008 election cycle.

[Reyeshawk13]

02:11 PM on 12/21/2010

Hoffman hasn't gotten around to writing "stem cell donor" in his eye black.

[stufried]

02:39 AM on 12/21/2010

could you see ochocinco, TO, or reggie bush do this?????????????? i dont think so. huh.

[tonedaf]

10:40 AM on 12/21/2010

I agree, add Tim Tebow to that list.

[T Pol]

11:17 PM on 12/20/2010

Another one deserving of "Greatest Person of the Day."

[dbeez]

10:45 PM on 12/20/2010

I could see pat tillman doing this :)