Texans’ Christian Kirksey, Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee, surprises Uvalde football team with custom Nike shoes

HOUSTON – Texans veteran middle linebacker Christian Kirksey, a Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee, has built a strong relationship with the Uvalde High School football team.

After visiting them at a team dinner in the wake of the school shooting tragedy at Robb Elementary along with chairman and CEO Cal McNair and foundation vice president Hannah McNair and former coach Lovie Smith, Kirksey recently surprised every member of the team with custom Nike Air Force 1s in the school’s colors: maroon and grey. The Texans provided the team with new Nike uniforms and hosted them at a game last season.

Kirksey is attending the NFL Honors program as a candidate for the league’s most prestigious honor.

Kirksey also gave Uvalde coach Wade Miller and linebacker Justyn Rendon tickets to the Super Bowl. Miller was a Texans’ Coach of the Year nominee.

Kirksey wore a Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year helmet decal through the end of the season.

All of the league’s 32 nominees receive up to a $40,000 donation in their name to a charity of their choice. The winner of the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award will receive up to a $250,000 donation to the charity of his choice courtesy of the NFL Foundation and Nationwide.

Kirksey chose The Boys & Girls Club & Teen Center of Uvalde as the beneficiaries of the NFL Foundation’s donation

“I think that we have a job not just playing football, but to be role models and to be a helping hand,” Kirksey said.

Kirksey visited Texas Southern University to celebrate a partnership with the school, awarded a high school coach of the week honors and spoke to high school students about how to carry themselves on and off the field.

“We are proud to call Christian Kirksey a leader on our team and in the Houston community,” Cal McNair said. “He sets an example for everyone on how to do things on and off the field, and he is incredibly deserving of this honor.”

Aaron Wilson is a contributor to KPRC 2 and click2houston.com.