Kids often think their dad is invincible.  It doesn’t get much more invincible than a dad who played in the NFL.

Florida Gators junior center T.J. McCoy is the son of former NFL defensive lineman Tony McCoy.  The elder McCoy has been setting the example his whole life for T.J., but when adversity hit several years ago, it was time for T.J. to step up.

The Clermont native and current Gators offensive lineman puts others before himself.  “I want to do it for these seniors, send them off right,” he said.

As the center, thinking of and protecting others is his whole job.  Like father, like son.

Tony McCoy was an All-American defensive lineman and part of Florida’s first SEC Championship team in 1991.  He was voted MVP his senior year.

He went on to a 9-year NFL career with the Colts and Cardinals – but right now it’s his post-football job that defines him.

Tony founded Hope International Church in Groveland with his wife Jodie.  For the McCoys, their philosophy is one of family and love, but one that was tested in 2011.

Tony was diagnosed with leukemia and given only a 30% chance of survival.  While T.J. was becoming a star at South Lake HS, his father was at his weakest.  “That raw emotion of your children seeing you in a state they have never seen you before is devastating, but what was encouraging is seeing them take the leading role,” Tony said.

T.J. played his freshman year at North Carolina State in Raleigh, NC, but with his father at home undergoing chemotherapy, he made a family-first decision – transferring to Florida.

“Best decision I ever made in my life.  Glad I’m here, gave me an opportunity to get a great education and be closer to family.  I won’t ever regret coming to Florida,” T.J. said.

Tony acknowledged, “It meant a lot to me for him to take a chance to leave NC State not knowing for certain what his future would be.”

Now, the future looks good.  T.J. has found a role at Florida and Tony is cancer-free.

“Tragedy give opportunity to do two things.  To quit, or pull together,” Tony said.

“I think this whole ordeal with him in and out of the hospital has taught me to be a selfless person and taught me how to fight through adversity,” T.J. said.

Thanks to faith, family and football, the McCoy Gator legacy lives on.