14-Year-Old Cancer Patient Calls Plays for Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens have a new top-secret offensive mastermind: Matthew Costello, a 14-year-old with an inoperable brain tumor. Costello goes to school with offensive coordinator Cam Cameron’s son Danny. When Danny told his dad about Costello’s recent diagnosis, Cameron, a cancer survivor himself, rushed over to meet him, Rick Reilly writes for ESPN. After a chat about football, Cameron asked, “Hey, Matthew, whaddya wanna call for our first play Sunday?”

Stunned, Costello suggested a play-action pass to Todd Heap. Sure enough, Baltimore called the play that Sunday, first for an incompletion, and later for a 14-yard touchdown. Three weeks later, Cameron called Costello again. “Run the ball,” Matt commanded. “Ray Rice. He’s hot.” Sure enough, Rice ran for an 83-yard touchdown on the game’s first play. “I just looked to the sky,” says Cameron, “and said, ‘Maybe there’s something to this kid!’” (More Rick Reilly stories.)