Titans RB Derrick Henry draws inspiration from hometown Florida teen battling cancer

Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry and his squad beat the Carolina Panthers on Sunday with a very special guest in the stands. Henry, a Yulee, Florida native, invited a junior at Yulee High School to attend the game after he became inspired by her battle against cancer. The 16-year-old, Sammy Macaulay, learned she had Ewing sarcoma, a rare form of cancer, last October.

Henry heard about Macaulay after a Jacksonville news station reported on a fundraiser for Macaulay. The event to raise money was called “Strike Out for Sammy,” in theme with one of Macaulay’s hobbies – softball.

The former Alabama standout reached out to Macaulay, first by sending her a video. The high school junior has gone through 14 rounds of chemotherapy and 36 rounds of radiation for a tumor that formed on her pelvic bone.

Welcome to Nashville, Sammy! @KingHenry_2 became inspired by the story of Yulee High School student @SammyMacaulay6's fight with Ewing sarcoma and invited her and her family to today's game 💙 pic.twitter.com/7SeqAoZkNd

— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) November 26, 2023

“It was so nice to see the smile that brought to her face,” Kellie Macauley, Sammy’s mom, told TennesseeTitans.com.

Sammy Macauley meets hometown hero Henry

After their initial contact, the only logical next step was to get Macauley, along with her mom, dad and sister to Nashville for a Titans game to meet Henry face-to-face. The running back paid for the family’s whole trip and the team provided sideline passes so they could meet pre-game.

“I saw her story, and I was inspired by it,” Henry said. “I just wanted to shed any light on her situation in any way possible. I’m glad I was able to get in touch with her to get something worked out.

“Somebody that is going through that and living life to the fullest. Her courage, fighting, I just think it is something special. I want to let her know I am praying for her, thinking about her, and I’m looking forward to meeting her.”

Macauley spoke to Titans reporter Jim Wyatt about Henry and his influence at Yulee High School.

“For somebody who grew up in the same hometown, who left and became such a beast,” Sammy Macaulay said of Henry, “for him to reach out to me when I’m going through a hard time, to try to lift up my spirits, it means a lot.

“Our whole school is Derrick Henry. Everything is Derrick Henry around here.”

After his standout career at Yulee High School, Henry went on to become the second Alabama player to win the Heisman Trophy. After the Titans snapped him up in the second round of the NFL draft, he made three Pro Bowls. He’s also led the NFL in rushing yards in two seasons. On Sunday, he posted 18 carries, 76 yards and two touchdowns. It was his first two-touchdown performance of the year.