Dawn Sawyer, Jack Sawyers Mother, says “ He could barely walk, but he got up and stood in front of the TV and I took a picture of him. The back of his head wearing the Sawyer’s jersey, watching jigsaw. You’re on TV because it was just a great moment. “

It was a moment that created an everlasting bond between two football loving guys from Ohio who just so happened to share the same name.

Jack Sawyer of Mentor, Ohio, who was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma in 2022, a rare and aggressive bone cancer. And Jack Sawyer of Ohio State a defensive captain and star edge rusher for the Buckeyes.

Dawn Sawyer, says, “A friend of ours reached out to the other Jack Sawyer and said, hey, there’s a kid up here in Ghost Manor, and he’s, you know, he’s battling cancer and he has your name. And, that Jack Sawyer, sent our son a care package. It had a letter in it. It had, a poster. It had Jack rejects, favorite snacks and gummy bears and Cheez-Its.

And, our son was elated. He thought it was the coolest thing ever. “

Jack Sawyer of Mentor, Ohio passed away in November of 2023 after an 18 month battle with Ewing’s sarcoma. He was 17 years old.

Dawn Sawyer says, “ He used the mantra of pace positive attitude changes everything during his whole 18 month battle with cancer. I mean, he was stronger than that night.here were days where they were, there were they were. So it was so hard and he’s the one that pulled us and looked at us.

MATT SAWYER / JACK SAWYER’S FATHER says, “ “ So he would say, you know, if I have a good day, if I can smile or if I can do something fun, if I could see people I love, you know, that’s a great day and that’s my way of beating this cancer. “

After helping lead the Buckeyes to win the national championship. Ohio State’s Jack Sawyer was selected by the Steelers in the fourth round of this year’s NFL draft. A moment Don and Matt Sawyer will never forget.

Dawn Sawyer, says “ We have a friend who’s a big Pittsburgh Steelers fan and I said, hey, how attached are you to your terrible towel? I said, I want to put it at the top at the cemetery. And then we drove. We put on our day had more than one. Yeah.

Matt Sawyer added, “She gave us one of her spare, terrible pedals and. Yeah. And we took a trip solitary, spotted on Jack’s grave to let Jack know that. Hey, we have a new team to root for. And, your favorite guy and our favorite player, is now a Steeler

2:35-2:41. DARREN ZASLAU / PITTSBURGH’S FOX 53 : JB’s strong. That’s what Jack Sawyer wrote on his armband at Ohio State to honor his inspiration, Jack B Sawyer, a tribute he plans to continue in the NFL.

Jack Sawyer, Pittsburgh Steelers Rookie says, “ Yeah, I was just talking to his mom and dad month a month or so ago, and I am going to so continue to put on my wrist state, you know, for games and, you know, he meant, you know, he was special.And, I think if any one of you got a chance to meet him, talk to him, you realize I really quickly. So, you know, always thinking about. He’s definitely got my original cannabis.

Toughness is a word that can describe both Jack Sawyer’s.An intangible. The Ohio State star looks forward to displaying in the Steel City.

J. Sawyer says, “I think that, you know, we look at myself and the other guys are drafted, Derek Almond and YA black, was to me all three was, you know, try to play with, you know, that motor and, that aggressiveness. Like, can you play this level.So it’s exciting. And I was trying to get the toughness going and, and we were somewhere out there, someplace physical and as aggressive as we can. “

The Sawyers have now traded in their orange and brown for black and gold. New colors they’ll be wearing with pride.

Dawn Sawyer says, “ We want nothing but the best for him because he is very deserving.And he happened to go to Pittsburgh, which is, you know, diehard Browns fans. But it doesn’t matter because now we are Pittsburgh fans. We’re going to get tickets and come to the home opener. We, we’re going to come and love and support Jack as much as we can.

JBS strong, a mantra that transcends even the fiercest AFC North rivalries. Bonded together by love, legacy and football.