Not all heroes wear capes. Some ensure the safety of your favorite players and hype them in the locker room. However, they don’t get accolades for their feats, but Cam Heyward decided to change that. Now, it’s our turn to acknowledge this crew of heroes and their hard work off the field. If they weren’t there, you’d miss out on a lot of action.

In a recent IG reel, Heyword extended a heartfelt message of gratitude for the immense dedication of the managers. He began by sending a special shoutout to Amir “Aura” Khan, the student manager of the McNesse Cowboys Basketball team.“I got to give a shout-out in a game ball to Amir Khan from McNesse, the manager,” Heyword said about the ultimate cheerleader that led the McNesse boys to their first  NCAA Tournament win. But he didn’t stop there.

The Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle mentioned the team’s equipment managers: Kyle Powers, Derek Rinehart, Patrick Noone, and Adam Regan. “I’ve been pretty fortunate to have them my entire career,” Heyword said about them, adding, “They always taken care of me. They go above and beyond. Man, if you got good people like that in your corner, that’s only an added plus.” They definitely deserve his gratitude.

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This is a wholesome moment in sports that goes beyond the game we watch. “Aura” Khan has become the first student manager in NCAA history to become a bigger story than the head coach. During the March Madness, Khan and his McNesse boys secured their first victory on March 22 against No. 5 seed Clemson Tigers. Later, a locker room video of Khan giving the boys a hype session went viral.

The league deserves more sportsmen like Heyward, who acknowledge the efforts of the men off the field. Most of the time, we don’t even get to appreciate the people behind the scenes like Khan because the headlines are ruled by the stars like that favorite 41-year-old quarterback and his next move.

Pat McAfee weighs in on Aaron Rodgers’s Steelers speculation

The NFL world is buzzing with one question: Will Aaron Rodgers land with the Pittsburgh Steelers, or is retirement on the table? Amid all the speculation, one name continues to pop up: Pat McAfee. Many believe Rodgers is waiting to make his big announcement on The Pat McAfee Show, but according to McAfee himself, that’s just a wild rumor.

“That’s crazy. It’s hilarious to think about,” McAfee said on his show, addressing the rumors that Rodgers is saving his reveal for the program. “I do appreciate that people think that is possible.” Adam Schefter has similar thoughts. He said he heard that Aaron Rodgers may not want to play in 2025.

“I’m not convinced that he does,” Schefter said about Rodgers. “Until I hear him say, ‘I want to play,’ then I can tell people are asking that question about whether or not he wants to play. It’s come up. People have said to me, ‘Are you sure he wants to play?’ No, I’m not sure. I’m hearing he might not want to play, which I don’t want to speak for him, because I don’t want to get called out.” However, Rodgers continues to leave everyone in the dark about his playing future.

While the Minnesota Vikings have publicly moved on with last year’s first-round draft pick, J.J. McCarthy, McAfee pointed out that the door hasn’t been completely shut on Rodgers. “The Vikings had the opportunity to completely close the door on Aaron Rodgers, and they didn’t,” he said.

Meanwhile, former Green Bay Packers linebacker A.J. Hawk, who played alongside Rodgers, confirmed that the veteran quarterback has a strong connection with the Steelers organization. “I do know that he likes all the Pittsburgh staff,” Hawk revealed. “He loves the staff, front office—everything about Pittsburgh. That’s what makes the Steelers the Steelers from the top down. I think he loves all of them.”

While Rodgers’ future remains uncertain, one thing is clear—he has plenty of options. Given his admiration for the organization, the Steelers seem to be the most logical destination, but with the Vikings keeping the door slightly open, nothing is off the table.

Until Rodgers makes his decision, the speculation will continue. But in the meantime, it’s worth taking a moment to appreciate the game’s unsung heroes—the managers, staff, and personnel who make every snap possible.