Cancer Survivor, 60, Walks On to College Football Team

At 60 years old, Tom Green is hitting the books as a freshman political science major and hitting the practice field as a walk-on defensive lineman at McDaniel College in Maryland. Most people his age are planning retirement, but Green is planning to make history as the oldest person to ever play college football in America.

Green's path to the gridiron wasn't straightforward. The Carroll County resident who owns a wooden pallet company in Littlestown, Pennsylvania, never attended college as a young man. Then in 2015, doctors diagnosed him with stage-four kidney cancer.

After beating cancer in 2017, Green made a decision that would change his life. He enrolled as a full-time student at McDaniel College and walked onto the Division III football team, competing alongside players less than half his age.

His teammates were initially surprised to see someone their grandfather's age in the locker room. "At first, it was kind of weird, but I got used to it because he teaches us lifelong lessons that we can use off the field," says teammate Jordan Weeden.

Head coach Skyler Fultz sees Green's commitment every day at practice. "Someone of that age who wants to get up on a cold morning like today and come out to practice. It shows a lot," Fultz says.

Green brings more than just heart to the team. Teammate Quadeer Smith appreciates the unique perspective his older teammate offers. "I get to learn a lot from him since he's an older person. I feel like he brings a bunch of energy to the team, and that's what I love."

Why This Inspires

Green's journey proves that dreams don't have expiration dates. After facing down a disease that could have ended his life, he chose to start living in ways he'd always imagined but never pursued. His presence on the field challenges every assumption about age, ability, and second chances.

When Green turns 61 this June, he'll tie the record for the oldest college football player. But the real victory isn't about breaking records. It's about showing up every day, learning alongside people decades younger, and proving that courage looks different at every age.

For his teammates, Green is a walking reminder that it's never too late to begin again. For everyone else watching his story unfold, he's proof that surviving something difficult can become the launching pad for something extraordinary.

Sometimes the best time to chase your dream is right now, no matter what the calendar says.