Holland

the day and make the most of it.”

Holland has remained positive throughout.

“The thing that I can control is my attitude,” he said.

Now, there have been peaks and valleys for Holland, who has coached with the Packers, Seahawks, Lions, Texans, Raiders and Browns.

“This happened in 2019 when I got diagnosed,” Holland said. “It was one of those deals where I thought there was nothing to it, and I’d knock it out. It would be over, and all of sudden that thing just turned around, man. I’ve been getting treatment for about three years, every week.”

His treatments were reduced recently.

“I got on this (new) treatment, and it’s been working for about two years now,” Holland said. “They just moved it this year to once a month, which has been awesome. I was having to get that treatment once a week. But I’ve been doing good.”

Through it all, Holland hasn’t missed much work and has continued to help groom his players and coaches. Demeco Ryans used to be his assistant linebackers coach; Ryans eventually became the 49ers’ defensive coordinator and landed the Texans’ coaching job this past offseason.

Holland, an original member of San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan’s staff in 2017, has done notable work with 49ers linebackers Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw. Warner is a three-time All-Pro selection, including this season.

“Really, God has been so grateful and good that I really haven’t missed any significant time,” Holland said. “During the COVID era, I couldn’t travel as much. Other than that, I was on the practice field every day. I’d go get treatment and get right back with it.”

Holland was taken in the second round (41st overall) of the 1987 draft out of Texas A&M; he graduated as the Aggies’ all-time leading tackler and now is second on that list. He had six 100-tackle seasons in his seven-year NFL career and was on the verge of breaking through as a Pro Bowler with the Packers when he had to retire.

“Neck was gone,” said Holland, a thumper of a linebacker who started 100 NFL games and played in 103. “You go through those neck rolls, but I’m still standing. I remember my first year of coaching; I was like there’s no way I’ll be around for 28 years, 30 years, but here I am hanging around. Been so grateful to have the opportunity to do this so many years and to be at the Super Bowl.”

He’s taking his cancer in stride while not knowing how much time he has left.

“You hate to go through something like this, but it’s been an eye-opener and it makes me appreciate every day,” he said. “I appreciate moments like this, for sure.”

Holland appreciates his playing and coaching days even more when he does take time to reflect.

“I always tell people sometimes you think your back is against the wall when things happen to you in life,” Holland said. “Then sometimes there are significant things in life that you can’t control, which is sometimes your health. I’ve been a true believer in God, but it makes you go, ‘God, is this for real?’ It’s real now.”

Holland has learned not to question his faith.

“He’s so gratefully good throughout my whole life, but not just this. It made me see God in a different perspective,” Holland said. “Every day is a really good day. Not just Super Bowl Sunday; every day is a great day. It made me see life from a different angle, which is good.”

Holland has served as an inspiration to his players.

“He’s meant everything to me,” said Warner, a sixthyear pro. “His battle with cancer, being able to show up every single day — you never know that anything is wrong. He brings the same type of energy and positivity day in and day out, and leads our group of linebackers . ... We take great pride in producing excellence out on that field, and he’s the reason for that.”

Greenlaw, a fifth-round pick out of Arkansas in 2019, also has developed under Holland’s watch.

“It’s been huge just to be able to, honestly, to have his encouragement, to see his inspiration every day,” Greenlaw said. “It leaves marks on all of us because you’re just thankful for every moment that you’ve got with him.”

Holland doesn’t talk about his cancer much with the players, but they all know what’s going on.

“Somebody like that going through what he’s going through, that’s able to fight, put a smile on his face and put smiles on other people’s faces — it just make you want to come in with a better attitude. A better mindset,” Greenlaw said. “He’s going through cancer, and we can come in and play football and get paid for it. That’s something to be thankful for.”

The 49ers have a challenge Sunday. After ranking fifth in the regular season against the run, they’ve been giving up rushing yards by the bushel — 136 to Green Bay and 182 to Detroit — in the playoffs. If the Chiefs can run the ball, quarterback Patrick Mahomes will be free to cut up the 49ers’ secondary with his pinpoint passing.

“We have to be on our stuff,” Holland said. “We have to play our best game against these guys. They can beat you in so many different ways.”