Beloved Husker fan Jack Hoffman dies after battle with brain cancer

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – A beloved Husker fan who battled brain cancer and famously scored a touchdown during the 2013 spring game has died.

Jack Hoffman, 19, died early Wednesday morning, according to a spokeswoman for the Team Jack Foundation, a nonprofit that helps fight pediatric brain cancer.

In December, his mother announced on CaringBridge that doctors found new tumors in his brainstem, cerebellum, ventricles and spine.

PHOTOS: Jack Hoffman, 2005-2025

Hoffman’s long battle with cancer began when he was only 5.

Before one of his surgeries, he asked to meet star Nebraska running back Rex Burkhead, and the two quickly became friends.

Many Husker fans remember when Hoffman went on a 69-yard touchdown run during the Huskers’ 2013 spring game.

His run earned him an ESPY Award for Best Moment in Sports later that year.

Hoffman continued to play football in junior high.

In 2020, Hoffman’s father, Andy, was also diagnosed with brain cancer. He died the following year.

SEE ALSO: ‘A terrible disease’: Father of Jack Hoffman battles cancer and COVID

After graduating from West Holt High School in 2024, Hoffman attended the University of Nebraska at Kearney to study political science.

UNK said he earned a spot on the dean’s list in his first semester and was a “valued member” of the campus.

“Jack was widely admired across Nebraska and beyond for his courageous spirit and dedication to raising awareness of childhood cancer through the Team Jack Foundation,” the university said on Facebook.

Jack Hoffman in high school

Courtesy: West Holt Public Schools

Nebraska football said the program is “devastated” by the loss.

“Jack Hoffman embodied what it means to be a Husker every day through his courage, fight and inspiration,” the Huskers said on social media.

Hoffman’s visitation will be at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Atkinson from 5 to 8 p.m., Friday.

“God has called our brother Jack Hoffman to eternal life in the glories of heaven,” the church said on Facebook. “Blessed be his memory among us.”

The funeral will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Atkinson Community Center.

You can learn more about Hoffman’s life at his The Team Jack Foundation site.