NFL and American Cancer Society Initiative Hits 2.7 Million Milestone
A long-standing partnership between the NFL and the American Cancer Society has reached 2.7 million people with essential cancer screening resources and education. The initiative, known as Crucial Catch, aims to bridge the gap in healthcare access by funding community health centers in under-resourced areas across the United States.
Since its inception in 2009, the program has focused on early detection, leveraging the reach of professional football to drive participation in screenings for breast, cervical, colorectal, lung, and prostate cancers. The impact is quantifiable: in 2025 alone, projects supported by Crucial Catch reached over 760,000 eligible patients across 64 health systems. These efforts facilitated more than 1.1 million screenings and led to 9,757 cancer diagnoses, effectively raising screening rates by an average of 4.1 percentage points.
Financial backing for these efforts comes from the sale of branded merchandise and league auctions, which have generated over $38 million to date. The NFL does not retain profits from these sales, directing all proceeds toward CHANGE grants. For the 2026 cycle, 64 new projects have been selected for funding. Beyond clinical grants, the partnership is expanding its outreach through "Crucial Catch LIVE: The Tour," a community event series sponsored by Novartis, and a dedicated player ambassador program featuring 37 NFL athletes who share personal connections to the disease.
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