DeAngelo Williams wanted to take his tribute to his mother to another level, but apparently the NFL got in the way.
On ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” broadcast, it was reported that Williams asked the NFL if he could wear something pink as part of his uniform all season to honor his mother, who died after a battle with breast cancer. The NFL, according to the report, denied the Pittsburgh Steelers running back’s request.
It’s unclear what Williams would have done to further honor his mother. He already dyes the tips of his dreadlocks pink as a tribute to Sandra Hill after she passed away in May 2014. Her battle was part of the inspiration for the NFL’s decision to allow players to wear pink in October as part of breast cancer awareness month.
“Breast cancer, whether I like it or not, is part of my family’s story,” Williams told MMQB.com last season. “That’s why I am so passionate about raising awareness, because I have seen firsthand how it can impact others. One time, a lady came up to me and said she was going to get examined just because she saw me wearing pink cleats during a game. I walked away thinking, ‘Wow, pink is really so much more than just a color. It’s a lifesaver. It’s awareness. If we reach one, we reach millions. If we reach millions, we’re doing our job and getting closer to finding a cure.’ ”
Thumbnail photo via Charles LeClaire/USA TODAY Sports Images
