Freddie Steinmark: Faith, Family, Football

Freddie Steinmark started at safety for the undefeated University of Texas Longhorns in 1969. In the thrilling €œGame of the Century,€ a come-from-behind victory against Arkansas that ensured Texas the national championship, Steinmark played with pain in his left leg. Two days later, X-rays revealed a bone tumor so large that it seemed a miracle Steinmark could walk, let alone play football. Within a week of the Arkansas game, his leg was amputated.

A gritty, undersized player, Steinmark had quickly become a fan favorite at Texas. What he endured during the Longhorns€ memorable 1969 season, and what he encountered afterward, captivated not only Texans but the country at large. Americans watched closely as Steinmark confronted life€s ultimate challenge, and his openness during his battle against savage odds helped reframe the national conversation surrounding cancer and the ongoing race for a cure.

Written with unfettered access to the Steinmark family and archives, Freddie Steinmark: Faith, Family, Football is the exploration of a brief but full life, one that began humbly but ended on a grand stage. It is a fitting tribute to a legendary Longhorn whose photograph, emblazoned with the word €œHeart,€ flashes on the Freddie Steinmark Scoreboard€s Jumbotron prior to each home football game in UT€s Darrell K Royal€“Texas Memorial Stadium at Joe Jamail Field.