PHX Reporter

On the final day of his visit, Elijah Higgins, wearing a neon vest, watched over 100 troops deplaning for deployment in Kuwait. Higgins, a tight end for the Cardinals, assisted the troops with their luggage. Despite their initial exhaustion, their demeanor changed upon hearing about NFL players visiting.

"They're going straight to work right off the plane, so you could see they looked kind of defeated and tired," Higgins observed. "When they made the announcement that there are NFL players visiting, you could see the change on their face (because) they were thrilled and excited. That's when I realized like, 'OK, dang, we really are having an impact.'"

Higgins was part of the NFL's annual USO Tour as part of the Salute to Service initiative, alongside Vikings running back Aaron Jones. During the trip, they visited military bases, interacted with military personnel, and even participated in a call with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.

"I keep telling people that it was a lot more impactful than I thought it was going to be," Higgins stated. "They re-emphasized how appreciative they were of us coming."

The Cardinals have a history of supporting military visits. In 2009, Larry Fitzgerald visited Kuwait on a USO Tour, and recently, Trey McBride and DeeJay Dallas visited troops in Poland.

The opportunity for this trip was suggested to Higgins by a fellow tight end. His familiarity with military life, owing to his father George Higgins' 28-year Air Force career, made it an easy decision. Elijah Higgins grew up in a disciplined environment shaped by his father's military service.

"We lived in a discipline household," Elijah recalled. "We couldn't do things until your room was clean and had to get your homework done before you could do anything. It was 'yes ma'am, no ma'am, please and thank you.'"

Higgins, aged 24, also attributes some of his manners to Southern hospitality. In Kuwait, memories of stories shared by his father about military life came to mind.

Football remained relevant on the trip as Jones and Higgins watched a seven-on-seven championship game between the troops reminiscent of a high school game. "There were cowbells and a really big crowd," Higgins commented. "It was really cool to see, they played really hard, and were excited for us to be there."

Higgins' appreciation for the military deepened during the visit, recognizing shared values with his own athletic career. "What they're doing right now is staying prepared, and that was honestly cool to see," Higgins noted. "Because as an athlete, you are constantly preparing for something in sight. We know the season is coming. Whereas they're preparing without knowing what's going to happen or when it's going to happen. That level of dedication is really cool to see."