Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman Tyler Smith is used to protecting his quarterback, but this November, he turned his focus toward protecting something even more important, people’s health. Through the NFL’s “My Cause My Cleats” campaign, Smith dedicated his custom footwear to raising awareness for breast cancer, inspired by the strength and resilience of survivors he met through the Cowboys’ Star Survivors program.
This initiative also connects to a broader movement across the league. Earlier this year, Novartis became the NFL’s first-ever official pharmaceutical partner as part of an exclusive collaboration aimed at transforming fan enthusiasm into action for better health.
The partnership brought Smith together with women who had faced cancer head-on, many of them connected through the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Hearing their stories hit him deeply.
“It was extremely impactful,” he said, describing his conversations with survivors whose courage left a lasting mark. Those women didn’t just share their stories. They helped design his cleats, ensuring each detail carried meaning and emotion. The final pair featured vivid pink tones, the symbolic breast cancer ribbons, and words of encouragement written across them.
The design also included a personal tribute hidden in plain sight: the name of Smith’s late aunt.
A Personal Tribute
When Smith saw the finished cleats for the first time, he felt overwhelming gratitude. “I was just gracious for the time and the care that they put into the design,” he said.
Before unveiling the cleats publicly, Smith told his uncles about the tribute to their sister. “They were grateful to me just for using my platform to honor her,” he recalled. “They talked about how emotional it was for them, how I almost brought them to tears.”
Smith’s aunt’s story is one that still shapes his perspective. “She had cancer once before. I think she had ovarian cancer or something like that,” he said. “She had beat that. And for years, my auntie was all right.” When the disease returned while Smith was in college, his family did what families so often do. They supported one another quietly, holding on to hope. But before Smith could bring his extended family to one of his professional games, his aunt passed away during his rookie year.
“Even thinking about it now really does kind of still hurt,” Smith said. “Through this, I wanted to partner up with Novartis and really advocate for early breast cancer screenings and things of that nature.”
A Platform with a Purpose
Smith’s participation in “My Cause My Cleats” is part of a broader partnership between the Dallas Cowboys and Novartis, the official pharmaceutical partner of the NFL. The effort aims to expand health education and access in the Dallas area, reinforcing the importance of early detection.
“I definitely think the education aspect of it is extremely important for me,” Smith said. “A lot of people don’t even like going to the doctor…So I think my biggest thing in partnering with Novartis is for people to educate themselves and…take their health seriously.”
He spoke candidly about how easily people overlook preventive care, distracted by everyday obligations. “We got bills and we got family,” he said. “We’re not thinking about that. We’re not on the internet being like, ‘Oh, you know, what’s a sign I could potentially be suffering from this?’” His message is direct: make time for annual exams and screenings because early detection can change lives.
The Creative Process
Behind the uplifting message lies a surprisingly meticulous creative process. Smith described what goes into making a pair of custom cleats: “You have to get chemicals to scrub the paint off the cleats. You have to get supplies to recolor the cleats and make sure that it won’t scrape off while you’re doing things.” His longtime friend and artist, Dorian Hopkins, helped with the technical aspects, while the survivors themselves shaped the visual story.
One survivor’s experience especially moved him. “One lady had survived like ovarian cancer, but she was a foster mother with her husband,” Smith said. “Her husband actually died of cancer. And then she continued to raise foster kids, and then she got cancer.” Her perseverance and kindness inspired Smith. “I thought the strength that she showed in the face of something like that just showed how much love she possesses as an individual,” he said.
Perspective and Gratitude
Listening to these women’s stories changed how Smith views life, faith, and even football. “Hearing their stories definitely gave me gratitude,” he said. “Obviously, I’m a football player… There are challenges that come with that. But ultimately it isn’t like life and death. I’m healthy. I’m living out my dreams.”
Smith also found new appreciation for his own family’s health. “Even in my own life, my mom is healthy,” he said. “She got her mammogram earlier this year, actually… She always keeps me in the loop on that.”
At its heart, his “My Cause My Cleats” campaign goes far beyond pink shoes or game-day visibility. It’s about remembrance, education, and gratitude for the lives that continue and the memories that endure.
As Novartis and the NFL continue this first-of-its-kind partnership, their joint mission remains clear: unite the power of sport, science, and storytelling to inspire healthier lives across every fan base. For Tyler Smith, that mission has a face and a memory: his aunt. It also has a message that extends far beyond football’s sidelines: be proactive, get screened, and look after the people who cheer you on.
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Cowboys Tyler Smith’s tribute shines light on family perseverance
Reporting by Jazz Monet, Cowboys Wire / Cowboys Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
