60-Year-Old Cancer Survivor Is Playing College Football and Chasing History

Tom Green got a second chance at life, and he is not wasting it. The 60-year-old Carroll County man is a full-time student at McDaniel College, and he is also suiting up as a walk-on defensive lineman for the Division III Green Terror. He is matching his teenage and twenty-something teammates move for move on the field, despite being three times their age, and he is playing for something bigger than just another season: the record for oldest college football player in America.

From Cancer Survivor to Freshman Athlete

Green owns a wooden pallet company in Littlestown, Pennsylvania, but college was never part of his story until now. He played some semi-pro football back in the day, but his life changed in 2015 when he was diagnosed with stage-four kidney cancer. "I was totally sick heading out. I was checking out in 2017," Green said. But he beat it. And instead of slowing down in his sixties, he decided to enroll at McDaniel as a full-time poly-sci major, number 72 on the roster.

McDaniel's head football coach Skyler Fultz has noticed the grind. "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 said. "Obviously, behind a little bit because he hasn't played football in so long. Having to go through that, that's the biggest difference."

Chasing the Record

Green came on the roster last year and has been working to make history ever since. At 61 years old, which he will be in June, he will be tying the record for oldest college football player ever. The current record holder is 61 and played as a kicker. Green is playing on the defensive line. "I knew that the number was 61. That's the oldest player who ever played," Green said.

His teammates are learning from him just as much as he is learning from them. "It's a great experience. 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," teammate Quadeer Smith said. "I had to get used to it. At first, it was kind of weird, but he teaches us lifelong lessons that we can use off the field," teammate Jordan Weeden added. Green joked about what they are teaching him back: "What they are teaching me is a lot of new words."

You can follow Green's journey on Instagram at "Tom Green: 0 to 60 in 6 decades." This is not just a feel-good story. This is a man who refused to quit.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.