The San Francisco 49ers announced today that linebackers coach Johnny Holland has been involved in a lengthy battle with cancer and will take some time away from the team after this week.
"It has been an emotional few years for me and my family," Holland said via a team-issued statement. "In September of 2019, I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma and have gone through several rounds of remission and relapse. Unfortunately, the cancer has returned and, beginning on September 6th, I will take some time away from the team to receive treatment. In sharing the details of my diagnosis, my desire is that I can be an advocate and beacon of hope for those who are battling cancer to help remind them that we're all in this together.
"I am thankful to the York family, John Lynch, Kyle Shanahan, and the entire 49ers organization for their constant support and encouragement. I would also like to express my gratitude to the doctors and healthcare professionals at Stanford Medical Center and UCSF Medical Center, who continue to assist me during my treatment plan. And, of course, my wife, Faith, and our children, who have been a blessing with their endless love.
"Thank you in advance for respecting my privacy as we continue to work through my treatments. We remain steadfast in prayer, and I look forward to returning to the team and coaching as soon as possible."
Holland, a former linebacker himself with the Green Bay Packers, has been coaching since 1995. He has been the 49ers' linebackers coach since 2017.
Holland coached one former NFL linebacker, DeMeco Ryans, at the start of his career with the Houston Texans. Ryans is now the 49ers' defensive coordinator.
"Johnny coached me for five years," Ryans recently said. "So whether it was Thanksgiving dinners, being there, it always felt like family with Johnny and never like a coach-player relationship. So he showed me from that standpoint, how to just interact.
"And now me being a coach, how do you interact with players? Like it's more than about just football. It's about life lessons. Johnny, I mean, I can go down and, he taught me about money, taught me about relationships.
"He just taught me about a lot of things where he was kind of like that father figure for me coming into the NFL. Johnny has been awesome. Great to have him. Great to work with him again. So I was thankful for Johnny."