South Carolina Gamecock fans were hit with some hard news this week. On Tuesday, former Gamecock quarterback Stephen Garcia revealed that he was diagnosed with stage four colorectal cancer. The news was first posted on X by South Carolina football Sports Information Director Steve Fink:
Hey @GamecocksOnline and @GamecockFB fans - some tough news to share. My man @StephenGarcia could use your help. 🙏 https://t.co/LnIIIDAQJp
— Steve Fink (@SteveFink_SID) May 6, 2026
"Wasn’t overly excited to share this news but it is what it is," Garcia wrote in a post on his Facebook page. "We have a great team of doctors and staff that’s confident we can beat this! It’s the only option.
"If there’s one lesson to be learned, get checked and don’t be afraid to visit the doctors office when you don’t feel 100%. The stuff we consume has been altered significantly over the years and we’ve been hearing more and more people in this age range are getting diagnosed with these things.
"We got this and I appreciate all yall!"
Garcia and his wife, Maria, have arranged a Go Fund Me page to help pay for his treatments. You can access the page by following this link. It has raised just over $5,000 so far.
The former South Carolina quarterback played under Steve Spurrier from 2008-2011. He finished 20-14 overall as a starter in Columbia, ending his career throwing for 7,597 yards with 47 touchdowns and 41 interceptions, adding 777 rush yards with 15 scores. His best season was in 2010, when he threw for a career-high 3,059 yards with 20 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. Garcia is credited with leading South Carolina with a shocking 35-21 over then-No. 1 Alabama that season. He threw for 201 yards and three touchdowns in the victory.
After his South Carolina career ended in 2011, he spent 2012-2013 with the Montreal Alouettes, the Tampa Bay Storm in 2014 and Birmingham Iron in 2019. He worked briefly for Saturday Down South in 2014 before becoming a personal quarterback coach and trainer.
Garcia is just 38 years old, but cases of colon cancer among younger adults have seen a sharp rise in recent years. The Cancer Research Institute recently stated that 1 in 5 diagnoses of colon cancer occurs in those under the age of 55 in 2026.
"Colorectal cancer is often silent in its early stages," Garcia's Go Fund Me page writes. "We cannot stress enough how important it is to prioritize regular screenings and colonoscopies. These preventative measures are life-saving tools that can catch issues before they progress. If Stephen’s story can encourage even one person to schedule their screening, it adds a greater purpose to this difficult fight."
He is married to his wife, Maria, who share a daughter. He also has a son, Memphys, who signed to play college football with New Mexico Military Institute in March earlier this year.
Gamecock far and wide are rooting hard for you to beat this, Garcia!
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