John Metchie III was supposed to be living the dream. Born in Ghana to a Nigerian mother. Raised in Canada. College football star at the University of Alabama, catching passes from Bryce Young. Selected by the Houston Texans in the 2022 NFL Draft.
The plan was simple: recover from an ACL injury, join the Texans, and begin his professional career. He was twenty-two years old. The future was limitless.
Then everything changed.
The Diagnosis
In July 2022, the Houston Texans announced that John Metchie III had been diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukaemia — APL. A form of blood cancer. Before he had ever played a single NFL down. Before he had ever put on the Texans uniform for a regular season game. Before the career had even started.
APL is one of the more treatable forms of leukaemia when caught early. But make no mistake — it is still cancer. It still requires aggressive treatment. It still carries risk. And for a twenty-two-year-old who had worked his entire life to reach the NFL, it was devastating.
The Texans placed Metchie on the non-football illness list. The roster spot would wait. The cancer would not.
The Faith
What stood out about Metchie's response was his faith. This was not a man who found God through cancer — this was a man whose existing faith carried him through it.
Metchie was raised in a household of faith. His British-Nigerian-Canadian background gave him a perspective that was both global and grounded. He spoke publicly about trusting God's timing. He posted scripture on social media. He described his cancer journey not as a detour from God's plan but as part of it.
"God had a plan bigger than football," Metchie said. That is a remarkable statement from a twenty-two-year-old whose football career had just been taken away before it started.
The Treatment
Metchie underwent treatment through the 2022 season. While his teammates played games, he fought cancer. While they ran routes, he sat in treatment rooms. The contrast was painful. Everything he had trained for was happening without him.
But Metchie did not wallow. He stayed connected to the team. He stayed connected to his faith community. He stayed connected to God. He described the treatment process with a maturity that belied his age — acknowledging the difficulty while refusing to let it consume his identity.
His teammates supported him fully. The Texans organisation wrapped around him. The NFL community sent encouragement. But Metchie's primary source of strength was not the league. It was his faith.
The Return
In 2023, John Metchie III was cleared to play football. He made his NFL debut — his first ever professional game — having beaten cancer first.
Think about that for a moment. Most NFL players' debut stories involve nerves, excitement, maybe a dropped pass. Metchie's debut story included a cancer diagnosis and recovery. He stepped onto the field carrying more weight and more testimony than any rookie in recent memory.
He caught passes. He played well. He was an NFL wide receiver, which was supposed to be the story all along. But now the story was so much bigger.
The Testimony
Metchie used his platform to speak openly about faith and cancer. He did not hide behind cliches or generic motivation. He named God. He shared scripture. He told a global audience that his recovery was not just medical — it was spiritual.
"I came back stronger because I came back with a testimony," he said.
What This Means for You
If you are young and facing a diagnosis that has taken your plans away — a career interrupted, a future derailed, a dream put on hold — John Metchie III's story says: God's plan is bigger than your plan. The thing that was taken might be given back. And when it is, you will carry something that no one can take from you: a testimony.
Metchie did not just return to the NFL. He returned with a story that reached further than any pass he ever caught. Your setback might be the setup for the most powerful chapter of your life.
Trust the plan. Even when you cannot see it. Especially when you cannot see it.
