Joe Andruzzi Joseph Dominick Andruzzi ( born August 23 , 1975 in Brooklyn , New York and raised in Staten Island , New York ) is a former American football offensive guard . In May 2007 he was diagnosed with non - Hodgkin ' s lymphoma . College career . Andruzzi played college football at Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven , Connecticut , where he majored in special education . He played every position on the offensive line and started all four years . Andruzzi was a Division II All - America n his junior and senior years as well as an offensive team captain during his senior season . Andruzzi played high school football at Tottenville High School in his hometown of Staten Island , New York City , New York . He was a classmate of Major League baseball All Star starting pitcher Jason Marquis and a teammate of Adewale Ogunleye , defensive end for the Miami Dolphins and then the Chicago Bears . Professional career . In 1997 , Andruzzi was picked up as an undrafted rookie free agent by the Green Bay Packers . He was allocated by the Packers in February 1998 to play football in Scotland for NFL Europe . Andruzzi was released from the Packers after three seasons . He was then signed by the New England Patriots in 2000 , where he played five seasons and earned three Super Bowl rings . In recognition of his contributions , Andruzzi received the Ed Block Courage Award in 2002 and the first Ron Burton Community Service Award in 2003 . Andruzzi became a free agent in February 2005 and was signed by the Cleveland Browns . He played with them for two seasons . Cancer experience and charitable mission . In 2001 , Andruzzi and his wife , Jen , were introduced to C . J . Buckley , who had an inoperable brain tumor . The families became very close and , therefore , it was devastating when C . J . died late in 2002 . Always driven to help others in need , the couple launched the C . J . Buckley Brain Cancer Research Fund at Children ' s Hospital . On May 30 , 2007 , Andruzzi was diagnosed with non - Hodgkin ' s Burkitt ' s lymphoma , predicted to double in size in just 24 hours . The family relocated back to New England where Andruzzi had an aggressive form of chemotherapy treatment over three months at Dana - Farber Cancer Institute and Brigham and Women ' s Hospital . He admirably fought the disease with strength and courage . Andruzzi ' s last treatment was on August 6 , 2007 . He then spent a year at home in recovery . After completing treatment , the Andruzzi family founded the Joe Andruzzi Foundation in 2008 . They are committed to tackling cancer ' s impact by providing financial assistance for patients and their families as well as funding pediatric brain cancer research . Personal life . Andruzzi has three brothers . All three are members of the New York City Fire Department , and responded to the attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11 , 2001 . On April 15 , 2013 , Andruzzi ' s foundation was hosting an event at a business on Boylston Street in Boston when the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings occurred . In the aftermath , he was photographed carrying an injured woman . Andruzzi ' s friend , former Patriots linebacker Matt Chatham , was also present , and uninjured .