Jaguars Pro Bowl Long Snapper Ross Matiscik Inspired by Jay Fund Pediatric Cancer Patients

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – When the Jaguars face the Texans on Sunday, they will do so with new equipment. When you take a look at their cleats, each one will be different, unique to themselves and the causes they seek to represent as part of the NFL’s ninth annual “My Cause My Cleats” initiative. Long snapper Ross Matiscik chooses to represent the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund.

“The Jay Fund is an organization that is very close to my heart and heart,” Matiscik said. “As this is my fifth time here in Jacksonville, I have worked with them a lot over my years. I think it’s very fitting to represent them again this year with my football boots.”

“I love them,” Matiscik added of the custom cleats. “Gracielin, I kind of gave her the freedom to do whatever she wanted with them and she attached a great little ribbon to the front with some flowers. Jay Fund’s blue colors are fantastic, with the logo on the side really big and proud for everyone to see. I’m excited to wear them on Sunday.”

Once the game is over, Matiscik plans to give the worn soccer cleats to their designer, 17-year-old Gracielin Hickox. The Jacksonville native was diagnosed with classical Hodgkin’s lymphoma last July, a month before she began her senior year of high school. Since her diagnosis, she spent 51 days in the hospital, where she began drawing.

“Since I was in the hospital, when I was admitted and stuff,” Hickox said. “I just got so bored that I thought anything was possible at that point, and then I actually found a lot of joy in it.”

One day while she was at Nemours Children’s Health, she was surprised by an invitation to draw Matiscik’s custom soccer cleats.

“I was just on day eight of my chemotherapy,” Hickox said. “When they told me that I would actually draw it and that I would definitely be chosen, I was excited.”

The drawing process began. Like a professional artist, Hickox had to come up with a design. She says it was nerve-wracking at first because she didn’t know what she wanted to create, but then it just came to her.

“We started by drawing the tape for it,” Hickox said. “The Art with Heart guy told me what to draw. He knew I liked drawing flowers, so I incorporated flowers into the jaguar print.”

“I think Gracielin killed this one,” Matiscik said. “Until cancer is no more,” that’s a pretty strong statement. I think it’s something everyone works for. Seeing that on the soccer cleats because I lost my aunt and my grandma to cancer. This means a lot to me and I’m all for it. Let’s make this thing go away for good.”

This is the second year Matiscik has partnered with the Jay Fund for the “My Cause My Cleats” initiative. Last season he wore boots designed by 13-year-old Seth Rowe.

“It’s still kind of shocking,” Rowe said. “It’s like he actually wore these on the field. It’s crazy.”

The Jacksonville native was first diagnosed with a brain tumor in January 2019 at age 9. Rowe’s cancer returned in July 2023 and went into remission a year later.

“Chemotherapy was, imagine, the worst thing that could have happened, it’s even worse,” Rowe said.

During his time at Wolfson Children’s Hospital, he developed his own motto: “Combat Ready.”

“I thought of this design because it just looked cool and it’s a cancer ribbon,” Rowe said. “The saying goes that you have to be ready to fight. I was ready to fight and anyone else going through a tough time needs to be ready to fight.”

Over the past year, Rowe and Matiscik have struck up a friendship, which is a big deal for Rowe since he is a huge Jaguars fan.

“I mean, the courage that this kid has,” Matiscik said. “I really believe he is an angel. He is one of the toughest people I know. It’s just cool what a Jay Fund and the relationships you can build from it.”

These are the types of relationships that remind Matiscik how lucky he is despite the Jaguars’ season struggles.

“The season doesn’t go the way you want it to, but you have to remember how blessed you are,” Matiscik said. “To be in this situation and there are children who have serious medical conditions, right? It puts everything into perspective when you walk into one of these hospital beds and see these kids struggling. A coloring book or something could give them all the joy in the world, and we’re here sulking about losing a few games or whatever the case may be. On the field and off the field, everything that happens in life is just one of those things that gives you a real quick reality check of how blessed we really are.”

Sunday’s game against the Texans is more than just a much-needed win for the Jaguars. Every time the players look at their boots it is a reminder of who they play for.

“Football is a game that we also dedicate our lives to, but ultimately it is not our whole life,” Matiscik said. “Our whole life and the purpose of being on this planet is to help others and to leave a lasting image and to leave it better than you found it. When I see their name on my boots, see their design, it’s so much more than just football and I’m really excited to wear them on Sunday.”

Hickox completed chemotherapy on October 23 and will begin radiation soon. The treatment is expected to be fully completed in December. She said after that experience and meeting Matiscik, she is now a Jaguars fan. Rowe is also doing well and said his experience during the My Cause My Cleats initiative was amazing and indescribable.