For more than a year, Marcus and Dre Spearman traded practice jerseys for caregiving duties, stepping away from football and much of their high school life to care for their mother around the clock. Amy Spearman, a single mother, suffered a seizure and head injury after hitting her head on a metal shelf, and doctors initially predicted she would not walk independently again.
The brothers, both student-athletes at Thomas Jefferson High School, provided care for their mother at home for more than a year, according to Denver7. Marcus, who started playing football at age 3 and dreams of becoming a professional player, became his mother's full-time caregiver during the ordeal, missing most of the second semester of his sophomore year and having limited contact with friends during that period. He did not participate in sports at all during that stretch.
A Brother's Decision to Step Back
Amy Spearman was hospitalized for several seizures, and doctors eventually recommended she be sent to a long-term care hospital, per the same account. Instead, her sons chose to bring her home and balance schoolwork with her health care themselves. Marcus helped his mother take steps and, at times, carried her on his back as she worked to regain mobility doctors had told the family she might never recover.
Dre Spearman, who plays interior offensive lineman and linebacker, supported his brother's decision to pause his own athletic and social life for their mother's sake. Dre has said his mother is his reason for pursuing football, and both brothers have said they would repeat the sacrifices they made for her without hesitation, the station's report notes.
Doctors Manage Seizures, Amy Regains Ability to Walk
Over time, doctors managed Amy Spearman's seizures more effectively, and she eventually recovered the ability to walk independently, according to the article. That turnaround allowed both brothers to return to school and football this year, with Marcus now playing wide receiver and defensive backup while also competing in track and field, and Dre continuing on the offensive and defensive lines.
Marcus is listed as a Class of 2027 student-athlete at Thomas Jefferson High School, per MaxPreps. He has said football is a lifestyle rather than a hobby for him, and he hopes his return to the field will help him impress college football recruiters as he pursues a spot in a Power Five conference. He visited the University of Washington earlier this year. Dre, for his part, dreams of playing college football on a scholarship and eventually joining his brother in the NFL, and he wants to use football to provide for his family.
Coach Praises Brothers' Character
Thomas Jefferson football head coach Mike Griebel praised Marcus and Dre for putting family above sports and socializing during a critical stretch of their high school years, saying the brothers have character that can profoundly impact a team, according to Denver7. Griebel led the Spartans to an official Season C championship in spring 2021, distinct from the fall 4A championship, per Colorado Preps. Amy Spearman has said she is proud of both of her sons for the sacrifices they made on her behalf.
A Widespread but Often Invisible Challenge
The Spearman brothers' experience reflects a challenge playing out across Colorado and the nation. The article discusses young people who provide care for family members and the potential effects of those responsibilities. It also discusses young people who assist family members with chronic illnesses, disabilities, or aging needs.
The topic also appears in a report from the National Association of State Health Policy, which discusses family caregiving responsibilities. The academic risks are echoed in a March 2026 study in Health Affairs Scholar, which found that people who become caregivers before age 25 accumulate 244% more caregiving years over their lives, experience lower rates of postsecondary education, and face up to a 23% reduction in predicted Social Security value by age 60 compared to non-caregivers, according to the Health Affairs Scholar findings published on Oxford Academic.
Policy Shifts Aim to Support Young Caregivers
Recognition of the issue has been growing at both the federal and state level. In February 2026, the federal Lifespan Respite Care Reauthorization Act was enacted into law, extending the federal program through 2030 and explicitly expanding eligibility to caregivers under age 18 for the first time, according to the ARCH National Respite Network. In Colorado, HJR26-1019 concerns a Recognize Caregiving Youth Day.
The national scale of family caregiving has also drawn attention among adults. The article also discusses unpaid family caregiving. Still, the article turns to targeted support for young caregivers.
For Marcus and Dre, that support arrived in the form of a football program willing to welcome them back once their mother's health stabilized. Both brothers returned to school and football, with football restored to their weekly routine and their sights set on college recruitment. Their story, as told to Denver7, stands as one family's account of what it can look like when teenagers are forced into adult caregiving roles and still find a way back to the field.
