Carleton QB defies the odds despite cancer diagnosis

by Robert Brent, Let’s Play Football

Quarterback Jack Curtis has spent his Carleton College career embodying toughness on the football field. This year, that word has taken on a whole new meaning as he faces the toughest battle of his life.

In early June, Curtis was experiencing severe chest pains in his hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina. Within a week of the occurrence, his doctors diagnosed him with late-stage II unfavorable Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. 

In an interview with CBS, the quarterback spoke about his initial reaction to the diagnosis.

“[It was] earth-shattering, to be honest,” Jack Curtis said. “Especially being young, you hear the word cancer and immediately think the worst.”

Curtis’ doctors sprang into action, removing a tumor the size of an egg and beginning a regimen of chemotherapy. With the need for treatment, doctors told Curtis that playing his senior season was near impossible. 

Jack Curtis must not have gotten that memo, as he’s started every game for the Knights despite receiving chemo at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester every two weeks. Curtis says his condition has taken a significant toll on his energy level. The quarterback is rarely able to practice during the week and sits on the bench and drinks water after every drive, but he isn’t letting it take him off the field.

The resilience shown by Curtis has been a constant inspiration for his teammates, with his left guard Declan Smith talking about the perspective it gives the team.

“It’s almost impossible not to be inspired,” Smith said. “It makes you think about all the things you’re annoyed about, little things that you’re like, ‘I gotta do that today?’ It’s like, they seem a little smaller when you put them into comparison with all the things Jack’s going through.”

Curtis’ presence on the field is an inspiration and a great sight to see, but he’s also continued being one of the most effective quarterbacks in all of Division III football. 

His 2447 passing yards this season rank third in the nation and lead the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. He’s passed for over 375 yards in a game on four different occasions this season, and has been named the MIAC Offensive Player of the Week two times (9/22/2025 and 9/29/2025) this season while leading Carleton to a 5-2 record so far.

Curtis’ standout campaign has cemented his name in the Carleton record books as he now leads the Knights all time in career passing touchdowns (76), completions (759) and passing yards (7926)

Despite his on-field excellence, Curtis has been focusing on the moments this season. Stepping on the gridiron has a much greater significance to the quarterback during his battle.

“It’s been nostalgic for me stepping on the field,” he said. “Remembering things that happened in my past games and hoping to make memories with my receivers going forward in this season. Building that memory bank, so when I’m sitting in the chemo chair, I can think of those good times and why I’m doing this.”

In a recent interview with KARE 11, Curtis said he hopes his story is one that others going through difficult times can use as inspiration.

“I hope some people look to this story as hope if they’re unfortunately going through something like this,” Curtis said. “Although I am going through something hard, and having cancer is really scary, I am blessed to have this care team, being able to beat this, and hopefully look back on these years in life with pride.”