Chris Spielman & Stefanie Spielman. Breast Cancer Heroes, The Ohio State University
Chris Spielman first inspired Ohio State football fans more than two decades ago with his skill as a Buckeye All-American linebacker and winner of the Lombardi Trophy. He now serves as a college football color analyst for ESPN and a sports news host for Sports Radio 97.1 The Fan in Columbus.
A highly recruited high school football player, the Canton, Ohio, native chose to come to Ohio State to play for Earle Bruce. During his college football career, he was a two-time All-American and a three-time All-Big Ten selection as best college football lineman. He still holds the Buckeyes’ record as the career leader in tackles. In 1988, after graduating from Ohio State with a degree in recreation education, he was drafted by the Detroit Lions, playing there for eight seasons. He subsequently played for the Buffalo Bills and the Cleveland Browns before retiring in 1999 with a serious neck injury. His broadcasting career started in 1999, as an NFL studio-show analyst for Fox Sports Net. He joined ESPN in 2001.
When his wife Stefanie’s breast cancer was discovered in 1998, Chris chose to forego the Buffalo Bills’ 1998 season to support his wife. Together, Stefanie and Chris launched The Stefanie Spielman Fund for Breast Cancer Research at Ohio State’s Comprehensive Cancer Center-Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute. Recognizing the importance of a strong caregiver to a patient battling cancer, the couple formed Stefanie’s Champions to benefit The Stefanie Spielman Patient Assistance Fund, as well as the research fund.
Throughout his wife’s illness, Chris never refused an opportunity to increase public awareness of cancer and to promote the critical importance of medical research. He continues to use his public persona unselfishly to continue the fight so impor¬tant to his late wife
Chris Spielman first inspired Ohio State football fans more than two decades ago with his skill as a Buckeye All-American linebacker and winner of the Lombardi Trophy. He now serves as a college football color analyst for ESPN and a sports news host for Sports Radio 97.1 The Fan in Columbus.
A highly recruited high school football player, the Canton, Ohio, native chose to come to Ohio State to play for Earle Bruce. During his college football career, he was a two-time All-American and a three-time All-Big Ten selection as best college football lineman. He still holds the Buckeyes’ record as the career leader in tackles. In 1988, after graduating from Ohio State with a degree in recreation education, he was drafted by the Detroit Lions, playing there for eight seasons. He subsequently played for the Buffalo Bills and the Cleveland Browns before retiring in 1999 with a serious neck injury. His broadcasting career started in 1999, as an NFL studio-show analyst for Fox Sports Net. He joined ESPN in 2001.
When his wife Stefanie’s breast cancer was discovered in 1998, Chris chose to forego the Buffalo Bills’ 1998 season to support his wife. Together, Stefanie and Chris launched The Stefanie Spielman Fund for Breast Cancer Research at Ohio State’s Comprehensive Cancer Center-Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute. Recognizing the importance of a strong caregiver to a patient battling cancer, the couple formed Stefanie’s Champions to benefit The Stefanie Spielman Patient Assistance Fund, as well as the research fund.
Throughout his wife’s illness, Chris never refused an opportunity to increase public awareness of cancer and to promote the critical importance of medical research. He continues to use his public persona unselfishly to continue the fight so important to his late wife.
Stefanie Belcher Spielman, Distinguished Service Award
Stefanie Spielman is without peer in her courageous and selfless dedication to a cause. During her too-short lifetime, she touched countless lives throughout Ohio and beyond with her grace and compassion.
Stefanie and her high school sweetheart and football hero, Chris Spielman, both attended Ohio State where she majored in journalism with plans to pursue a career in broadcasting. The couple married in 1989.
In 1998, after being diagnosed with breast cancer, Stefanie and her husband decided to go public with her illness and use their prominence in the community to draw attention to the disease and the need for medical research. The couple launched The Stefanie Spielman Fund for Breast Cancer Research in partnership with Big Bear grocery stores, hoping to raise $250,000 for Ohio State’s Comprehensive Cancer Center-Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute. Within a short time, the fund raised $1 million and, over the next decade, the Spielmans raised more than $6 million for cancer research.
Inspired by the devoted care she received from Chris, Stefanie formed Stefanie’s Champions, a fund-raising event to honor other caregivers of cancer survivors. The event, now in its 10th year, has raised more than $1 million for The Stefanie Spielman Fund for Breast Cancer Research. She also created The Stefanie Spielman Patient Assistance Fund to help breast cancer patients and their families who are strug¬gling financially. In 2002, she was inducted into the Ohio Women’s Hall of Fame for her work.
Despite enduring five bouts of cancer recurrence, Stefanie continued to promote breast cancer awareness and support through personal public appearances, speaking engagements, media interviews, endorsements, and, along with Chris, personal financial support. She leaves a legacy of hope and caring.
