During last season, Jets coach Todd Bowles felt a lump in his throat.
But it wasn’t due the nerves of being a first-time head coach, it was an actual lump in his throat.
Via Darryl Slater of NJ.com, the Jets head coach had surgery in January to remove a benign mass in his throat.
“It was almost the size of a golf ball,” Bowles said.
He said he wouldn’t need any further treatment since the mass wasn’t malignant, and other than not being able to talk for a few days afterward, he was fine. “It messed up my singing vocals,” he said, “but other than that, it was fine.”
He discovered the mass early last season, and said it caused him some discomfort swallowing. But after seeing a doctor, he was told he’d be fine to wait until after the season to get it removed.
“It was just how much pain tolerance I could take,” Bowles said. “It was fine. It wasn’t a big deal. It was pressing up against the artery, and I had trouble swallowing a little bit. I didn’t want to get it done during the season, if something went wrong. So I just waited until after the season.”
He’s speaking normally now, and relieved to be in spot where it wasn’t something more serious.