John Metchie on overcoming cancer, what he brings to Jets in candid conversation with The Post

New Jets receiver John Metchie III, who arrived in a trade with the Eagles late last month, catches up with Post columnist Steve Serby for some Q&A.

Q: Describe winning the 2024 George Halas Award for overcoming the most adversity to succeed.

A: Just … resiliency. … Just being able to … kind of classic knocked down seven, get up eight story, you know? Throughout the journey of life, whether it’s in sports or outside of life, like everyone goes through peaks and valleys, but it’s all about getting back up after whatever said adversity is.

Q: You had a heart scare in high school.

A: Yeah, for sure, had like a heart murmur and some things there that kept me out of sports for a second. I think it’s just through it all just keeping a strong faith. I’m not a doctor or anything, I can only explain it through like my faith.

Q: Was that scary at that time?

A: For sure. Especially that age and being that young. Like, it being a question whether you’re going to be able to continue athletics, for sure.

Q: Probably even worse than that was the leukemia, right?

A: Yeah.

Q: How difficult was that for you emotionally?

A: Your loved ones is definitely the biggest thing. But then, kind of who you are as a person, you know? Kind of just like sports, you don’t step up to the moments, you fall back on your preparation and training. So for me, when that happened, it’s just falling back on who you are as a person, and that’s about getting better like 1 percent each day. Had a saying back then which was, just one break at a time. So it’s just like it’s a test to the strength people have within them.

Q: Was there a low point during that year, when you missed your 2022 rookie season with Texans?

A: I don’t really think about it like that, honestly. But I’m sure there were some moments where (laugh) you weren’t jumping over the moon with joy. Whether it’s a low moment or a good moment, it’s showing up every day, it’s like one day at a time. That’s what moments like that, events like that for people I believe really come away with because you really learn that no day is promised. Every day you wake up, no single day is promised so you really learn to be present and take it one day at a time.

Q: What was it like when you first stepped back on the field after a year away?

A: The easy answer would be like it was great, just being able to resume doing what you love. But like honestly, when you’re away from something, especially dealing with something like leukemia, it’s like learning a new language all over again, even though it’s a sport you know, just being away from it for so long, and being focused on so many other things, it’s just like learning a new language, because there’s just so much detail that goes into what we do, so much detail on top of all the competition and balling (laugh), stuff like that.

Jets’ John Metchie III scores a touchdown during the third quarter against the Patriots.
Charles Wenzelberg for The New York Post

Q: You had made it back from a torn ACL in the 2021 SEC title game, too. You’re like one of those guys who gets knocked down but doesn’t stay down.

A: Yeah, exactly (smile). What’s that, like a “Rocky” movie or something? Something like that, yeah, for sure, it’s literally the same thing: You get knocked down seven, you just get back up eight. And I think maybe the lesson that things don’t happen, or just the perspective that things don’t happen to you, they happen ­­­­for you.

Q: What was your first emotion? Because the NFL draft was coming up.

A: I didn’t even think about all of that, I just wanted to win the game and win the natty, that was what was on my mind. But in the moment, it was really a deep sense of calm, and that’s just my faith, that’s just my upbringing, it’s just who I was raised to be. … It wasn’t poor me or anything like that. It was really about winning the game, but then, when I thought about myself, it was like, “I’m going to be alright, everything’s going to be alright.”

Q: Describe your experience with the Texans, from 2022-24. Why did they give up on you?

A: I don’t even think about it like that, honestly, because there’s many things that went into it. Of course I got sick that first year, and MD Anderson [Cancer Center] was there, you know? I look at it as the developmental phase, I don’t even look at it like that. It just didn’t work out in the end, but it was a good moment for me, getting acclimated to the league, getting healthy at MD Anderson and the hospitals, they took really good care of me.

Q: How long were you in the hospital for?

A: About a year. I did some months as inpatient, then I did some months as an outpatient going up there every day.

Q: And that treatment included what?

A: A lot of things. I’m not a doctor so I don’t really remember, but a lot of things. I remember arsenic was one of them for sure.

Q: Arsenic?

A: Yeah. You got to look it up, you got to look it up.

Q: Isn’t that a poison?

A: Yup, it is. They use all sorts of things to cure all sorts of cancers. It’s actually pretty interesting.

Q: How long did it take you to feel semi-normal, or normal again?

A: That’s kind of relative, because it’s like then you’re looking back trying to get to a place that’s gone, you know? I feel much better than I ever did now. I feel way better than I did even before I got sick.

Jets wide receiver John Metchie III carries the ball during the second half against the Cleveland Browns at MetLife Stadium. Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Q: Why did the Eagles let you go?

A: I don’t know, that is a question for whoever makes those decisions. But it was a good experience. A lot of old teammates and stuff there. But it was a good experience. I really just focus on the things that I can control. I think that question is best suited for the people that actually make those decisions.

Q: What do you think you bring to the table as an NFL wide receiver?

A: The dawg, you know? Somebody that loves to win. Not just the winning but the process of it. Not just Sundays and Thursdays or Mondays, but what you do every other day and in the offseason is what ultimately leads to that, and not get so caught up on the outcomes.

Q: Describe your on-field mentality.

A: Win. That’s the only thing on my mind. The one and only thing on my mind is winning the game, and then within that, winning the play, like what’s in front of you. In order to win the game you have to win each play and not, like, just win the game, you have to win one play at a time, so that’s the only thing on my mind.

Q: What drives you?

A: Wanting to be the best version of myself.

Q: How close are you?

A: I don’t think close because it’s … I think the moment you stop growing, or the moment you reach that, then the only way is down, right? Especially in this game, you’re always learning, it’s always evolving, people are always getting better, the game is always changing, so I think it’s an ongoing process.

Q: Do you think you’re comparable to any receiver? Does any receiver remind you of you?

A: Nah, not at all. … I don’t even think about it like that, honestly.

Q: What physical tools do you pride yourself on?

A: I think speed, strength, quickness, versatility. Just a lot of things, like the game calls for different things in different moments, and it’s, like, “Can you execute what is needed from you in that moment,” right? I wouldn’t want to say just fast, ’cause, like, how’s that going to help you when you’ve got to block?

Q: You enjoy blocking?

A: I enjoy playing football, I’ll say that. I enjoy catching the ball, I enjoy blocking, I enjoy running with the ball, if I got to tackle somebody — I just enjoy playing football.

Q: Why would I have difficulty covering you?

A: I think versatility … motor and hard to stop.

Eagles wide receiver John Metchie III (18) makes a reception against the Kansas City Chiefs during the first quarter of the game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in September. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Q: What does that mean, versatility?

A: Versatility in sports is just being able to do a bunch of different things. There is no box. It’s hard to stop somebody that can do a bunch of different things.

Q: Did you have favorite receivers growing up?

A: I think when I started it would probably have been like Randy Moss, Antonio Brown, Julio [Jones]. A lot of people. And it wasn’t just in the league, maybe you know, like Tavon Austin in college, too.

Q: You’re most comfortable in the slot?

A: Nah. It’s not that I’m not most comfortable there, and I don’t want to say that I’m better in the slot. I don’t feel that way, I feel that I’m just as good all three wide.

John Metchie III during his Alabama years. Getty Images

Q: What are your thoughts on Aaron Glenn?

A: A leader. Knows how to lead, and I think that’s huge.

Q: What is his leadership style?

A: One, by example. To me that’s what I relate to the most. A person that can lead by example. ’Cause it’s more about like you remember seeing and what people do rather than what they said all the time, right? So first leading by example and then second, being able to communicate to all different types and demographics of people. Like, that’s huge. Like, how to get the same message across to so many different types, the whole building, the whole organization.

Q: What was it like playing for Nick Saban at Alabama.

A: Especially being in college in that time of your career, it’s learning the importance of process.

Q: You won the Jon Cornish Award twice as the best Canadian in NCAA football.

A: Just an honor. Anytime you’re like able to be recognized, not saying you necessarily do it for things like that, but definitely an honor.

Q: What would be a good title for a movie about your life?

A: “Mr. Worldwide.” … what’s that, Pitbull (laugh)?

Q: That’s not bad, considering you were born in Taiwan.

A: Born in Taiwan, raised in Ghana, and then moved to Brampton in Canada and then America — Maryland, Jersey, all over the place.

Q: What does Thanksgiving mean to you?

A: Just gratitude and family.

Q: What are you planning on doing this Thanksgiving?

A: It’s weird. Canadian Thanksgiving for me being a Canadian already happened. Now I’m just celebrating Thanksgiving (chuckle) over here with everybody else.

Q: How proud of your Nigerian heritage are you?

A: Extremely. My Nigerian heritage, my Taiwanese heritage and Canadian. All of those things are who I am.

Q: You’re like a walking U.N.

A: (Smile) Something like that. Should be a rep, huh?

Q: You have three brothers — Royce, a DB for Edmonton in the CFL, Miles and Leon.

A: I’m the youngest of four, so definitely had a huge impact on my upbringing, and definitely helped mold me into the young man and athlete that I am for sure. I started playing football because of them.

Q: You were on the 2020 Fall SEC Honor Roll?

A: My mom cares more about academics in school than sports, so as long as we did that, my brothers and I, that was the most important thing to her. And if we did that, then we could go play whatever sport we wanted to play.

Q: Any significance to you wearing No. 3?

A Yeah, John Metchie the third.

Q: Three dinner guests?

A: Jesus, MLK, Mike Tyson.

Jets wide receiver John Metchie III speaks to reporters. AP

Q: Why Mike Tyson?

A: One of my favorite athletes.

Q: What is it about him?

A: Just his dominance in the ring.

Q: Favorite movie?

A: “Gladiator.”

Q: Favorite actor.

A: Denzel [Washington].

Q: Favorite rapper?

A: Sade Adu.

Q: Favorite meal?

A: Oxtail, rice and peas, dumpling and Jamaica patty.

Q: What is it like playing in New York, the Big Apple?

A: I like it. I like New York City, it kind of reminds me of Toronto. Even the weather over here, it reminds me of home and all those things. I’ve been in the south for a while, it’s nice to be back on the east.

Q: You like the big stage, the big spotlight?

A: I think that’s what you do it for, like you play sports you want to win championships and you don’t want to play where no one is watching. You don’t go to play and compete and work that hard to do that. I don’t even think about it like that, like the big stage, big spotlight, wherever I play I want to win the championship, That’s the goal. That’s why you show up every day.

Q: What is your message to Jets fans?

A: I don’t think I would really have one. I’m more of a by example type of person. I kind of like letting my actions speak for themselves more than my words.