Gold Jacket Spotlight: Alan Faneca’s fight with epilepsy becomes advocacy for others

Receiving a diagnosis of epilepsy can change a person’s entire reality and raise questions about everyday life. Yet, for a 15-year-old ALAN FANECA, the second most important question became, “What about football?”

Alan’s epileptologist had no hesitation in saying he should continue to give football a go. His journey is the focus of this week’s Gold Jacket Spotlight.

On Dec. 24, 1991, Alan experienced his first seizure, which ultimately resulted in a diagnosis of epilepsy — a neurological condition characterized by sudden and repeated episodes of sensory disturbances, unconsciousness or convulsions originating in the brain. 

He became determined to pursue his dream of playing professional football and wouldn’t allow the diagnosis to pose a threat he couldn’t overcome. With the right medication, the pursuit of Alan’s dreams would continue.

"I wasn't going to let it [be an obstacle],” Alan said. “I was going to do everything normal.”

His persistence prevailed at both the collegiate and professional levels, as he became one of the great offensive lineman in football history. Thirteen seasons in the NFL, totaling 206 games for the Steelers, Jets and Cardinals, Alan won a Super Bowl XL ring with Pittsburgh and was named to nine Pro Bowls and had six first-team All-Pro six selections. 

Nearly 30 years after his initial diagnosis, Alan remarked about his epilepsy during his Enshrinement speech. 

“Epilepsy is part of me, but it does not — does not — define me,” he said followed by an applause. “Whatever one's challenge in this life, disability or not, my message is always to maintain an integral commitment to not let anything stop us from fulfilling our vision.”

While playing for the Steelers, Alan knew that sharing his story could help others with epilepsy and change their view on the diagnosis. His willingness to share what his initial struggles looked like in such depth allowed others to find comfort in knowing there’s someone else who has overcome it. 

“If I can share stories of my seizures, telling them how I walked out of high school in my pajamas one day, having a seizure, it lets them know they’re not alone,” Alan said. “It lets them know that, ‘Hey, if you can talk about it, maybe I can talk about it.’

“I want to use this platform that I’m so fortunate to have to inspire people,” he remarked in an interview.

In 2021, Alan partnered with pharmaceutical company SK Life Science to launch the STEPS Toward Zero movement. The program is designed to educate epileptics about the steps they can take to get closer to zero seizures. For more information on the program, click here.