Mr. Irrelevant: John Tuggle's Cancer Journey

With the upcoming film, Mr Irrelevant: The John Tuggle Story, set to be released in theatres, audiences will be introduced to the true story of an NFL underdog whose promising career was cut short by a rare and aggressive cancer.

The nickname, “Mr Irrelevant”, is a title given to the last player selected each year in the NFL Draft. John Tuggle, a running back who played for the Cal Golden Bears in college, was drafted by the New York Giants as “Mr Irrelevant” in 1983.

After being drafted by the New York Giants, Tuggle worked hard through training camp and preseason to earn his place on the Giants’ 53-man roster. However, things took a turn when Tuggle was diagnosed with cancer the following year.

Tuggle was involved in a minor car crash in 1984. Since then, he started noticing pain in his shoulder. However, it seemed to be too significant to be caused entirely by the relatively minor collision. After seeing a doctor, Tuggle discovered that he had angiocarcinoma, a rare form of cancer that starts in the cells that line blood vessels or lymph vessels. According to the National Cancer Institute, approximately one in a million people will be diagnosed with angiocarcinoma each year in the US.

Following his cancer diagnosis, Tuggle began undergoing chemotherapy to treat his cancer. Despite undergoing treatment, Tuggle fought hard to keep his place on the team. Not only did this inspire his team, it also left a lasting impression on his head coach, Bill Parcells.

"For all the players that I've ever coached in my lifetime, there have been a few – John being among them – that had some attributes that you couldn't see. You had to gain an understanding of this guy's determination, his will, those kinds of things. Just walking around, you don't gain an appreciation for anything like that. It has to be gained under duress, during times of pain, during times where we all have to go to those dark places and respond," Parcells shared.

Tuggle eventually succumbed to his cancer in August 1986 at the age of 25. That season, the Giants went on to win their first ever Super Bowl. In honor of Tuggle, the players wore the number 38 on their helmets along the way, including the championship game in Pasadena.

Mr Irrelevant: The John Tuggle Story, is a biopic featuring Tuggle’s journey, starring David Corenswet and directed by Jonathan Levine. It is set to be released in theatres in December 2026. According to an official synopsis, the movie is said to depict “the inspiring true story of John Tuggle, the last player selected in the last round of the 1983 NFL draft by the New York Giants.”

“What happens when a person who has defined himself by optimism and resilience is faced with a losing struggle? Can grace and dignity and humor and love transform failure into its own kind of success? These are the questions I thought were asked by John’s story and I think are asked of each of us at various points in life,” shared Corenswet.