The Houston Texans’ rookies are set to host a “PLAY 60” event at Burnet Elementary School on Monday in an effort to encourage 100 fourth and fifth-grade students to get and stay active. The initiative is part of the NFL’s outreach program to reach young people around the country, and promote the sport of football as a means of exercise.
While veterans have participated in these events in the past, rookies like Jalen Pitre, Derek Stingley, Kenyon Green, and Dameon Pierce will lead the students through various drills that will challenge their dexterity and provide some levity after the weekend. For some of the kids, this occasion may be their first opportunity to meet the Texans rookies in person and may serve as a gateway to a long fandom in support of Houston football.
In a statement released by the team on Friday, the Texans indicated that the “PLAY 60” event is presented by the Texas Children’s Hospital, which is located in the Houston area. According to the release, the partnership for this event “encourages kids to get physically active for at least 60 minutes a day”, which has been deemed to be beneficial to the long-term health of children.
The Texans hope to host this event with the momentum of a win on Sunday to help brighten the kids’ spirits when they get to the school. With the exceptional group of talent that will be in attendance for this event, it should be an occasion that the young people at Burnet Elementary will remember for years to come.
Houston is set to take on the Las Vegas Raiders on the road in Week 7, and are looking to secure their second victory of the 2022 season. With a 1-3-1 record, they are in last place in the AFC South and will need to pick up their pace if they intend to finish the 2022 season outside of the top 3 teams in the draft next year.