Boston College linebacker nominated for award after cancer victory

Jason Jones

•
Boston College linebacker nominated for award after cancer victory image

The Boston College Eagles only have one win this season, but their biggest win might not come from a football game. Linebacker Bryce Steele has reason to celebrate a victory today for something he already won. Steele, who was forced to miss the entire 2024 season while battling cancer, has been nominated for the 2025 Capital One Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award.

The “Courage Award” is awarded to a player who displays courage on or off the field. Some previous examples include overcoming an injury or physical handicap, preventing a disaster or living through a hardship. Beating cancer before the age of twenty-five certainly qualifies.

2023 was not Steele’s first bout with cancer. As reported by Sports Illustrated, Steele battled a rare form of cancer in 2019 when he was diagnosed with ‘thymoma’. That particular cancer attacks the thymus gland in the upper chest. He would have a surgical procedure to remove a 13-centimeter tumor that had nestled itself near his heart.

Despite his first run with cancer coming during his recruitment period, Steele kept the diagnosis private. He was able to beat that cancer prior to joining the Boston College football program.

In Steele’s sophomore season, he began to show his football promise. In that season Steele amassed 51 tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble. At that point in time it seemed, he was on a successful trajectory headed into his junior season.

Cancer returned but Steele would be victorious  

Unfortunately for Steele, his particular cancer was persistent. The cancer would return each year after 2019. Requiring additional surgeries to alleviate smaller but still concerning pieces of tumorous material. Eventually a scan revealed cancer cells were spreading into the lining of his chest wall. The initial fix proposed included a rather difficult procedure that would have included opening his sternum and effectively end any football career Steele could have.

After a failed round of chemotherapy in 2023, Steele and his family opted for a different surgical procedure. Two months later, Steele was out of the hospital and cleared to begin non-contact training at Boston College. Steele had to relearn how to walk due to the nature of his procedure. In addition to that, Steele’s diaphragm had lost enough of its mass that he actually had to relearn how to breathe.

In August of 2024, Steele was fully cleared to return to football activities including full contact practice. In 2025, Steele has appeared in seven games for the Eagles and even started a game this season. As the Eagles prepare for the next test against SMU, Steele is a contributor for Boston College. His numbers won’t jump off the page, but that couldn’t matter less for this story. 14 tackles, a QB hit and a pass breakup are hardly Butkus Award worthy but that could not matter any less. Having numbers at all is a huge win for a football player who had to come to terms with the idea he may never play again.

Boston College is at the bottom of the ACC standings. With a 1-8 record and winless in conference, no one expects Boston College to make any noise in the final quarter of the season. Eagles fans are likely already looking to next season, but in the meantime, Steel’s Courage Award chances should give BC fans something to root for. Not all heroes wear capes and Boston College fans have a hero to root for.

Boston College welcomes SMU this week to Alumni stadium. That game can be viewed on the ACC Network and will kick off at Noon ET.

More college football news: 

Contributing Writer