Titans cornerback Coty Sensabaugh is currently in the middle of his first full offseason as an NFL player. Sensabaugh, a 2012 4th-round pick from Clemson is working on improving his skills and build on his rookie campaign. At the same time he is putting time off the field supporting a cause that is very important to him, and a form of inspiration that helped him get to where he is today.
Coty’s brother Jamaar passed away suddenly when he was 16 from leukemia. Though Jamaar was five years Coty’s senior (Coty was 11), the connection the two shared was of best friends as well as brothers. Coty said that he and Jamaar “did everything together” and added that his brothers memory “is everything to him.” After his passing, Coty was determined to represent his brother in all of his endeavors and go about things the way Jamaar would have.
“Anytime I didn’t want to do something, homework, practice, I would always hear Jamaar’s voice telling me to keep fighting,” said Sensabaugh, who grew up in Tennessee. “It’s a tragedy what happened but I wouldn’t be in this position today without what happened.”
In remembrance of his brother and as a way to help others battling the issue, Coty has gotten involved with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Man & Woman of the Year Campaign, which began April 4th and runs until June 6th. The campaign is meant to both raise money in the search for a cure, but also let individuals and families connect and talk about their stories and provide a reminder that they aren’t going through their difficulties alone. Sensabaugh says that talking to people is the part of his work he enjoys the most.
“The best part for me is making relationships with the individuals I meet,” Sensabaugh said. He specifically mentioned a 13 year old by named Bryson who is in remission from leukemia. Sensabaugh, who is the youngest in his family, said that his relationship with Bryson is a meaningful one to him, and that he treats him “like a younger brother.”
The campaign itself consists of six different fundraisers organized by Sensabaugh in the Nashville area. These include events at California Pizza Kitchen to Chick-Fil-A to even a benefit fashion show. Additional information can be found at coty4acure.com. Sensabaugh said that he has gotten great help from his Titan teammates, and also that his platform as an NFL players has been invaluable in all of his work. He said that he knew shortly after his brother’s passing that if he ever was afforded an opportunity to reach out to others and help, he would do so without question. When he meets with other individuals going through treatment or communicates with the families of those people, the idea for Coty is simple: share his story and make people feel better.
“Jamaar has definitely shaped the kind of person I’ve become,” said Sensabaugh. He added that Jamaar was a great competitor, a trait that Coty strives to emulate both on and off the field.
He says his conversations with the people he’s come in contact with through the campaign are meant to be motivational and encouraging. “No one should have to go through what I went through,” said Sensabaugh is a huge factor in his work. He tells people to keep on fighting the illness and think positively. Additionally, he said “Each day you just have to pick up the pieces are try your hardest to keep on going.”
More information about Sensabaugh can be found at cotysensabaugh.net.
