When the Dallas Cowboys take to the field Thursday night against the Minnesota Vikings, backup tight end Gavin Escobar will be wearing especially important cleats.
Escobar, who survived a battle with testicular cancer, will depict said battle and how he overcame the illness on his cleats.
Cowboys TE Gavin Escobar had testicular cancer. Week 13 cleats say "I survived" & "Feeling Nuts" (via @dallascowboys) pic.twitter.com/GqvjggmJXq
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) November 29, 2016
The writing will simply say “I survived” and “Feeling Nuts.”
It’s perhaps Escobar’s way of helping others who are going through the same disease. It’s also his way of pointing out that no matter the curves life throws at you, there’s always hope.
Back when he was a freshman at San Diego State, Escobar felt some pain in his groin area. After being tested for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), the tight end then took it upon himself to search the internet for what might be causing the pain. It’s at that point that his mother set him up with an appointment with a doctor at UCLA.
In the months that followed, Escobar had surgery to remove the tumor and lymph nodes removed from his stomach.
In detailing exactly why he decided to go with these two specific quotes, Escobar had this to say.
“There were a couple slogans (to pick from),so I picked the ‘feeling nuts’ one,” Escobar said, via the Dallas Morning News. “I know they tried to get that to stick a couple years ago. I saw it, thought it was a good one, so I picked that one.”
He also made sure to let others know that when you are feeling pain that area, to make sure to get it checked out. It’s his way of putting this disease on the front burner.
“If anyone’s having pain down there, don’t feel ashamed,” Escobar said. “Go see a doctor, talk to your friends. Get it checked out.”
Escobar is one of hundreds of NFL players taking part in specific causes by wearing speciality cleats during Week 13 of the NFL season.