Houston’s Dylan Horton took a moment to appreciate the scene after running out of the tunnel on Sunday for his first game since beating late-stage cancer.
“I was kind of taking in the moment, understanding that there’s been a long journey to get here, but it’s also just the start of where I want to be,” he said.
The defensive end, who returned to practice on Wednesday, was diagnosed with Stage 4 Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a type of cancer affecting the lymph nodes, on December 1. He announced that he was in remission in March.
Horton made a small impact in Houston’s 23-20 win over the Buffalo Bills, finishing with just one tackle. However, just being back on the field was a huge achievement for the 24-year-old after everything he has faced in the past year.
“It’s just a blessing to be out there on the field,” he said. “Especially with the support of my family, friends and the Texans. Just running on the field for that first play was a great feeling.”
Horton had a large group of supporters at the game, including his parents and girlfriend. Coach DeMeco Ryans mentioned earlier this week that Horton’s mental strength and attitude inspired others during his treatments.
On Sunday, Horton expressed that it was this mindset that helped him reach this point.
“I feel like the positive attitude is everything,” he said. “Just kind of having that positivity, having it in yourself and spreading it makes it even better.”
Horton felt great after playing his first game since November 19 and said it was a lot of fun to be back on the field with his teammates.
When asked what the best part of his special day was, Horton quickly answered. “Getting the win,” he said with a big smile.
