Family of cancer-stricken boy supports Conner in Steelers debut

James Conner built a bond with 5-year-old Andrew O’Neil over a shared fight: cancer.

Andrew died of stomach cancer last year, but not before

Conner, who survived Hodgkin’s lymphoma as a star running back at Pitt.

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Andrew’s family remembered that bond when they stood on the sidelines Sunday at Heinz Field to watch Conner make his preseason debut for the Steelers, and they don’t think it’s a coincidence his football career has kept him in Pittsburgh.

“It was a sign,” said Andrew’s mother, Jaime Hagerty O’Neil. “We feel like it was a sign.”

Conner tweeted about Andrew’s passing in December: Sad to see my little buddy Andrew go. Rest easy my friend. You will be missed.”

“He’s done stuff for our family that’s near and dear to our hearts and we just want to see him succeed,” Jaime Hagerty O’Neil said.

Cox Media Group