Longhorns Bring Holiday Lights to Hospital Rooms

Arch Manning, other Longhorns offensive stars visit St. David’s NICU, children’s hospital

Arch Manning and teammates turn a season of pressure into a season of compassion for young patients in Austin

Longhorns Bring Holiday Lights

The holiday season became brighter for families at St. David’s North Austin Medical Center when Texas Longhorns stars Arch Manning, Ryan Wingo, Emmett Mosley V, and Daylan McCutcheon stepped away from football to serve those who needed hope the most.

The players visited babies in the NICU at the St. David’s Women’s Center of Texas, delivering tiny Longhorn onesies, and brought care packages to pediatric patients at St. David’s Children’s Hospital. Moving from room to room, they colored holiday pictures with children, posed for photos with families, and shared simple moments that made a difficult time feel warmer.

Texas Longhorns visit patients at St. David’s Children’s Hospital

“The visit from Arch and his teammates was such a special gift to our patients,” said Denise Bradley, the vice president of marketing and corporate affairs for St. David’s HealthCare. “Being in the hospital is hard this time of year, especially for children and their families, so to see their eyes light up and their faces fill with joy when those Texas football players walked into the room was priceless.”

The visit came while the team was preparing for the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl on Dec. 31 in Orlando against Michigan, showing that even in the middle of high-stakes competition, giving back still mattered. For families facing long hospital stays, the players’ presence offered comfort, connection, and a memory to hold onto.

“Today’s visit from Arch and his teammates was such a special gift to our patients,” hospital representative Denise Bradley said in a video. “Being in a hospital is hard this time of year, especially for children and their families. So to see their eyes light up and their faces just filled with joy when those Texas football players walked into the rooms was priceless.”

This spirit of generosity is not new for Manning. In July 2023, a rare 1-of-1 trading card was auctioned for $102,500, with proceeds helping Central Texas families through the hospital — proof that the impact goes far beyond a single visit.

The moment reflects a broader holiday effort to bring cheer to patients whose celebrations are unfolding amid treatments and recovery, where a simple onesie or care package becomes a symbol of hope.

These moments show that true greatness is not only found on the field, but in how athletes use their spotlight to lift others, especially children and families who need a reason to smile during the hardest days of the year.

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