VIDEO: Brampton native battles back from leukemia to score first NFL touchdown

It hasn’t been an easy voyage to the top levels of his sport for John Metchie III.

During an outstanding college football career as a wide receiver at the University of Alabama, the Brampton native suffered a serious knee injury that could have hampered his stock when it came time for the National Football draft.

Metchie persevered, overcame the injury, and was picked number 44 overall by the Houston Texans in 2022.

But another obstacle stood in his way before he turned pro.

Just a few weeks after his draft selection, Metchie was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia which put his football career on hold as he underwent treatment.

Metchie had to put his football dreams on hold as he dealt with the greater challenge of fighting for his health, but by 2023 he was back on the field competing for a spot on the Texans.

While his rookie season found him with limited playing time, this year, with injuries to several of his teammates, Metchie’s role has increased but through the first nine weeks, he was unable to find the endzone. That changed last night (Nov. 10).

Although his Texans lost to the upstart Detroit Lions 26-23 on a last-second field goal, Metchie scored his first touchdown by catching a 15-yard pass from quarterback C.J. Stround in the second quarter of the game.

Fans of Metchie, 24, will see him again, this time in the national spotlight, when Houston takes on Texas rivals the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football, Nov. 18.

Meanwhile, though the touchdown was a personal first for Metchie, he is not the first from Brampton to score in the NFL.

That honour belongs to Josh Palmer who grabbed a touchdown pass for the Los Angeles Chargers in a December 2021 game against the New York Giants.

John Metchie missed his entire rookie year after he was diagnosed with leukemia in 2022.

Two years later he’s making BIG plays for the @HoustonTexans ❤️ pic.twitter.com/lICeHix1uC

— NFL (@NFL) November 11, 2024