How NFL Legend Johnny Holland Is Battling Multiple Myeloma With Strength, Hope, and Groundbreaking Treatment
For decades, Johnny Holland built a reputation as one of football’s toughest competitors — first as a standout linebacker in the NFL and later as a respected coach for the San Francisco 49ers. But even a warrior like Holland has one weakness: needles. Every time a nurse administers an injection, he squeezes his eyes shut and braces himself.
“No matter how many times I do this,” he jokes, “the shot always gets me.”
Today, at 58, Holland is facing a challenge far more serious than any opponent on the field — an aggressive form of multiple myeloma, a blood cancer that affects plasma cells. For the past two years, he has been part of a pioneering UCSF Health clinical trial, testing new medications that are keeping his cancer under control.
And now, he’s using his platform to raise awareness and inspire others.
A Leader On and Off the Field
Multiple myeloma is one of the most common blood cancers in the U.S., with nearly 36,000 new diagnoses every year. It occurs when cancerous plasma cells crowd out healthy cells in the bone marrow, weakening the immune system and damaging bones.
“This disease is serious, but we have more tools than ever before,” says Holland’s physician, Dr. Thomas G. Martin, a nationally recognized expert in blood cancers at UCSF Health. “There’s always something new coming that can help patients.”
And Holland is helping prove that.
A New Generation of Cancer Treatments
UCSF Health is at the forefront of testing advanced therapies — everything from chemotherapy and radiation to stem cell transplants, CAR-T therapy, and cutting-edge immunotherapies. The clinical trial Holland joined includes a powerful combination of medicines designed to activate the body’s own immune system to fight the cancer.
“These immunotherapy treatments are the future,” says Samantha Shenoy, a UCSF nurse practitioner who works closely with Holland. “We’re already seeing better outcomes and renewed hope.”
Multiple myeloma has a disproportionate impact on Black Americans, making clinical diversity crucial. Holland’s participation helps researchers better understand how treatments work across different populations.
The First Signs Something Was Wrong
Holland spent more than 30 years in football, known for toughness and consistency. After years of hits, surgeries, and aches, pain was nothing new to him — until 2019.
That summer, he began experiencing intense back and hip pain, so severe it affected his ability to golf, jog, or even walk several miles as he normally did.
His wife, Faith, remembers urging him to see the team doctor, but Holland hesitated.
“Sometimes we’re hardheaded,” he admits.
Eventually, he made a deal with himself: he’d go to the doctor’s office if it was empty. One day, it was — and that decision may have saved his life.
A CT scan and blood tests revealed stage III multiple myeloma. He immediately began chemotherapy.
That same season, the 49ers reached the Super Bowl — and while the team didn’t take home the trophy, Holland already had his biggest win.
“He wouldn’t have made it through the season without starting treatment,” Dr. Martin says.
Coaching Through Treatment
Holland’s clinical trial medications were intense at first — weekly, then biweekly, and eventually once a month. Despite everything, he rarely missed a day on the field.
“I don’t like being late to practice,” he says with a smile.
His team stood by him as well. Head Coach Kyle Shanahan, GM John Lynch, and players wore shirts that read “We’ve got your back.”
“And they really do,” Holland says.
Recognizing the Symptoms Early
Early signs of multiple myeloma can be easily overlooked, especially in older adults:
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Persistent back or bone pain
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Fatigue
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Recurring infections
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Unexplained weight loss
More advanced symptoms may include bone fractures, nausea, constipation, or numbness in the legs.
Even after years of playing through injuries, Holland now listens closely to his body. His weight has stabilized, his energy has returned, and although nerve pain still flares up, it hasn’t worsened.
He even climbs four flights of stairs every time he visits the UCSF clinic.
“It gets the heart pumping,” he says. “The more active I am, the better I feel.”
A Message of Hope
As he lay in the UCSF infusion center receiving life-saving injections, Holland reflected on what matters most.
“The medical staff makes you feel like you matter,” Faith says. “When you’re fighting something like this, you need that support. Doctors and nurses are like coaches — they push you, guide you, and care deeply.”
Holland now uses his journey to inspire his players and anyone facing their own battles.
“It’s not the big things — it’s the little things and how you treat people. We all go through struggles. What matters is staying positive and lifting others up.”
Through strength, resilience, and groundbreaking medical care, Johnny Holland is showing the world what it means to fight — and win — beyond the football field.
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