Mike Glennon is the starting Quarterback for the Chicago Bears and a first-time father. Randall Cobb is one third of the touchdown scoring trio of playmakers for the Green Bay Packers and a newlywed. Both have unique rituals that seek to set them up for success on the field and off.
Gerald McCoy is a Defensive Tackle for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and part of a community just hit by a Hurricane. Malcolm Butler, a Safety for the New England Patriots is part of the Boston community that has seen its own share of tragedy. Both are bonded by the Super Bowl rings on their fingers and strengthened by the fans that place their communities of Tampa and Boston, first.
Malcolm Jenkins, a Safety for the Philadelphia Eagles, and Thomas Davis, a Linebacker for the Carolina Panthers, are veteran leaders and members of two of the top performing teams in the league. Driven by style, swagger, hydration therapy and heartfelt locker room speeches - firing up teammates before they take the field is just part of the game plan.
Marquette King is an unconventional athlete and the Oakland Raiders Punter. Rookie Kansas City Chiefs Running Back Kareem Hunt is unconventionally conventional in everything he does, except shatter records. This Thursday Night, their pregame rituals set the stage for a key rivalry matchup with massive AFC implications. Chiefs vs Raiders.
Terrell Suggs, an Outside Linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens is better known as T-Sizzle the team showman, prankster and masked gladiator. Julius Thomas, a Tight End for the Miami Dolphins, is a silent warrior focused on mindfulness and spiritual growth. When both come to play on Thursday Night- their rituals take a a left turn. it's all business.
Super Bowl Champion Russell Wilson's Seattle Seahawks offense is top five this season in passing and total yards/game. He's a diligent master of rituals, training the mind as intensely as the body. Honey Badger Tyrann Mathieu, safety for the Arizona Cardinals, might just be Russell's fiercest opponent with similarly matched rituals. On Thursday Night the fight for playoff contention continues.
The Steelers and Titans reign their AFC divisions. On Thursday Night one will fall. Pittsburgh linebacker Ryan Shazier is aiming to protect the win streak. Running back DeMarco Murray is looking to color rush Tennessee into another win. With mom and wife credited as their biggest fans and integrated into pregame rituals, a victory is that much sweeter.
Adam "Vinny" Vinatieri is a 4x Super Bowl Champ and Kicker for the Indianapolis Colts. Demaryius "DT" Thomas is a Wide Receiver for the Broncos and also a Super Bowl Champ. Those aren't the only links. Both record holders. Both senior leaders in their organizations. Both keys to Peyton Manning's legacy. Their rituals are packed with coaching, games and that winning drive.
JuJu Smith-Schuster, a Wide Receiver for the playoff-bound Steelers, is unabashedly entertaining on the field and off. DeAndre Hopkins, a WR for the Houston Texans, is having a record setting year, yet on a team that will end their season in December. With a Christmas Day game, their rituals are steeped in the gift of giving and making dreams come true for some of the NFL's biggest little fans.