NFL Linebacker Loses Fiancée to Cancer Less Than Two Months After Diagnosis — Read His Emotional Tribute Letter

Buffalo Bills linebacker Tony Steward lost his fiancée Tuesday, less than two months after she was diagnosed with cancer.

Steward proposed to his girlfriend of four years, Brittany Burns, just a few days after she received her diagnosis Dec. 9.

Burns, 26, suffered from a rare form of ovarian cancer, according to Syracuse.com.

Steward posted an Instagram photo Tuesday night of a healthy, smiling Burns, along with a heartfelt message to the woman he called “the strongest and most loving soul to step foot in this world.”

Brittany Ann Steward! Wow BEAUTIFUL is the only way I know you. You have the biggest heart I have ever seen in my entire life and I promise you that it will live on in me, our family and every single soul you have touched. You are the strongest and most loving soul to step foot in this world. You have been my rock, my motivation, my heart, my soulmate, my everything since the day I laid eyes on you. Every single day of your life you have been a fighter and I know this because of the unbelievable family you brought me into. We will all honor everything you stand for in life. I will continue to be the person that you always bring out in me. Believe me when I say that I deeply love you with every ounce of everything in me. Love always, Your Fiancé #fightinglikeagirl #fightlikebritt

A photo posted by Tony Steward Jr (@tony_stewardjr) on Feb 2, 2016 at 2:56pm PST

“You have been my rock, my motivation, my heart, my soulmate, my everything since the day I laid eyes on you,” Steward wrote.

The couple met while both were athletes attending Clemson University. Burns was on the university’s rowing team and Steward played football.

Steward, 23, was drafted to the Buffalo Bills in May.

In a New Year’s Instagram post, Burns wrote a reflection on 2015, a year full of exciting life moments and one tragic curveball.

“I’ve got to beat the only news that brought 2015 down,” she wrote, “Cancer.”

2015 held a lot of great moments. Tony was drafted by the Buffalo Bills, we got our first pet LV and moved up north to Buffalo. Tony proposed to me after nearly 4 years of dating. But while 2015 was good, I’ve got to beat it! I’ve got to beat the only news that brought 2015 down, cancer. #Fightlikeagirl

A photo posted by Brittany Burns (@bburns) on Jan 1, 2016 at 4:56pm PST

Steward wrote Tuesday: “Brittany Ann Steward! Wow BEAUTIFUL is the only way I know you. You have the biggest heart I have ever seen in my entire life and I promise you that it will live on in me, our family and every single soul you have touched.”

Image via Instagram/Tony Steward

(H/T: Syracuse.com)