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Nebraska pays tribute to superfan Jack Hoffman following death

Wade-Peeryby:Wade Peery•01/15/25
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Jeff Hanisch | USA TODAY Sports

Nebraska football lost one of their biggest fans on Wednesday, superfan Jack Hoffman passed away. The Cornhuskers took to Twitter to offer up a special tribute. “Jack Hoffman embodied what it means to be a Husker ever day through his courage, fight, and inspiration. We are heartbroken by his loss and send all our love to the Hoffman family.” He died of cancer at the age of 19 years old.

Hoffman became famous in the 2013 Huskers Spring Game, becoming a catalyst for pediatric brain cancer fundraising. He died on Wednesday evening after a 14-year battle with cancer, according to the Team Jack Foundation.

When he was five years old, Hoffman was diagnosed with a cancerous glioma. Doctors told his family that most of the tumor could not be removed. His father, Andy Hoffman, did extensive research and found a doctor in Boston who took out more than 90% of the tumor. Jack Hoffman’s favorite player at Nebraska was Rex Burkhead. And the family developed a friendship with the former NFL running back.

The moment that Hoffman was most well-known for came in April of 2013, when the Huskers’ coaches decided to put him in the spring game. Jack Hoffman was seven years old at the time, ran for a 69-yard touchdown run as 60,000 fans roared. Video of that play generated millions of views on YouTube and it was showcased on several different media outlets across the country. It also earned him an ESPY for “Best Moment” in 2013.

He was a freshman majoring in political science at the University of Nebraska Kearney. The school shared its “profound sadness” in a social media post. “Jack made a significant impact on our campus in his short time here,” the Twitter post reads. “We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.”

His father Andrew Hoffman also died of cancer in March of 2021, after being diagnosed with glioblastoma.