Houston Texans surprise Uvalde high school football players, reveal special helmet decal
UVALDE, Texas - The Houston Texans are continuing to show support for the Uvalde community in the wake of the deadly school shooting there in May.
According to the team, Head Coach Lovie Smith, linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill, linebacker Christian Kirksey, and Uvalde-native and Director of Player Care and Sports Medicine Roland Ramirez went to the Texas town to support the high school football team.
FILE. A sign surrounded in gifts is seen at a memorial in front of Robb Elementary School on June 17, 2022 in Uvalde, Texas. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
On Thursday night, they surprised the high school football players at a team dinner ahead of their home opener on Friday, the Texans say.
"First of all, it was a huge surprise, and usually people can’t keep surprises from me, but it was awesome. Just to feel the love from those guys and Coach Smith was awesome," said Uvalde Coach Wade Miller in an interview with FOX 26 Sports.
Cal and Hannah McNair led the Texans contingent visiting Uvalde, to give back, surprising the football team with new jerseys, pants, cleats, socks, gloves and other gear provided by Nike.
"To hook us up with uniforms, head to toe, including mouthpieces, everything. It’s unbelievable. We’ll feel the love from Houston for sure," Coach Miller said. "My kids are pretty normal football kids when we do football. It just shows them that they’re not alone."
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The Texans say team legends Travis Johnson, Kevin Walter and Jonathan Wells, TORO and Texans Cheerleaders will help put on FLAG-in-Schools clinics for Uvalde elementary and middle school students, as well as support the high school team for their game tonight.
At the Texans’ own season opener against the Indianapolis Colts on September 11, they will wear special helmet decals in support of the Uvalde community.
On Friday, the team shared an image of the stickers with the words "Uvalde Strong" and the Uvalde CISD logo.
"We stand with Uvalde," the Texans wrote on Twitter.
About a week after the deadly elementary school shooting on May 24 that left 19 students and two teachers dead, the Texans announced a $400,000 donation to the Robb School Memorial Fund.
RELATED: Houston Texans donate $400K to Robb School Memorial Fund: 'Texans care about Texans'
The team said the players led the donation effort, coming together to give $200,000 to the fund. The Texans organization matched the donation.