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Indianapolis. There can only be one winner in Sunday’s Super Bowl (Monday morning Jakarta time), but for two opposing players, a bigger battle has already been won: victory over cancer.

New York Giants linebacker Mark Herzlich and New England Patriots offensive lineman Marcus Cannon have both had to deal with life-threatening illness and came through their treatment to achieve their sporting dream, a place in the biggest game in American sport.

After an outstanding season for Boston College, Herzlich was diagnosed in May 2009 with Ewing’s sarcoma, a rare form of cancer affecting bone and soft tissue.

He underwent a six-month course of chemotherapy and radiation and also needed surgery and a titanium rod inserted into his leg, which remains in place to strengthen his bone.

The linebacker said his aim of making it in the National Football League motivated him through the arduous treatment.

“Playing football again was the goal and that really pushed me. After six hours of chemotherapy, you’re sitting there and your body just feels drained,” he said. “You don’t want to move, but I said ‘I am going to be playing football again in eight months,’ so I need to go and work out.”

Herzlich said he made a highlights video of his 2008 season to keep him motivated.

“That was probably the worst pain I have ever been in,” he said.

Cannon’s treatment for non-Hodgkins lymphoma was less painful but going through chemotherapy weakened him.

“I still had faith I was going to get into the NFL. I didn’t know if I was going to get drafted or not, but I still believed I would play in the league,” he said.

Cannon entered the draft, but his illness pushed him down the list. Still, the Patriots took him in Round 5 with the 138th pick.

After missing training camp and the early part of the season due to his treatment, Cannon was finally activated in Week 10 of the season and was part of the team which beat the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC championship game two weeks ago to secure a Super Bowl spot.

“The confetti was coming down and I’m sat there thinking, how am I supposed to feel? It’s hard to take all of this in,” he said.

Herzlich returned to college football in 2010 but went undrafted. His only contract offer came from the minor-league UFL, which turned down to keep alive his dream of reaching the NFL.

The Giants picked him up as an undrafted free agent in July and he featured in 11 games this season.

Herzlich says his doctors played a perfect game but knows he has won one of the toughest challenges anyone can face.

“I think it is a little bit of a miracle. It’s a case of beating the odds,” he said.

Reuters