Hayden Shock walked onto the field before the Steelers-Colts game, simply thinking he was the lucky winner of pregame field passes.
Instead, he got the shock of a lifetime.
As he approached the field from the north end, he couldn't miss the giant scoreboard at the opposite end of the stadium.
It read, 'Congratulations Hayden, 2025 Steelers Fan of the Year.'
Shock fell to his knees inside the tunnel before even stepping foot onto the grass, overcome by emotion.
The reaction was one that instantly brought tears not just to his family members accompanying him, which included his wife, Lauren Shock, and his parents, Ed and Mary Ann Shock, but others in the area at Acrisure Stadium.
"You have to understand, I'm 33 years old. That's 33 years of living and breathing the Steelers," said Shock via email as he requires full use of American Sign Language to communicate. "It's not just a team, it's a part of my DNA, a story passed down.
"When I saw that, when I knew what was happening, the emotions just flooded me. I stood there, this grown man, completely overwhelmed, and it was because it suddenly felt like those 33 years of unwavering loyalty were somehow being acknowledged.
"I wasn't just shocked. It was profound gratitude. To be chosen to represent the Steelers organization and its fandom, it means everything. In that moment, the noise of the stadium faded, and all I could see were my wife and my parents. To share something so deeply personal, so meaningful, with the people I love most in the world it made the blessing feel complete.
"I felt incredibly grateful and blessed. It was an experience that will be etched in my soul forever.
"That kind of moment is rare. It transcends the game. It's a memory forged in a feeling so raw and powerful."
All 32 teams select a Fan of the Year with each one attending Super Bowl LX in San Francisco as the guest of the NFL. One winner is selected, which includes fan voting, to be the NFL Fan of the Year.
Shock was presented with his tickets by center Zach Frazier, who knows sign language because members of his family are deaf.
"To be chosen as the Steelers Fan of the Year, it's not just an award, it's a soul-deep affirmation," said Shock. "To represent the Steelers organization and its fandom, which is truly a global family, it means everything.
"It's the realization that my heart, which beats in black and gold, has been seen. For a lifelong fan, it feels like the ultimate pat on the back from the team I've cheered, cried, and celebrated with for decades. It's the highest honor an ordinary fan can receive. A once-in-a-lifetime validation of every Sunday spent on the edge of my seat.
"It means that my devotion, my family's tradition, all those years, suddenly connect me to the team in the most profound way possible. It's an overwhelming feeling of belonging and pride."
Shock's story is one of perseverance and strength.
Shock, 33, was born with Goldenhar Syndrome, which affects his organ growth and robbed him of his hearing since birth. He also had to have a kidney transplant in his 20s.
He could have easily been discouraged by all he went through in life, but instead he used the hand he was dealt to inspire others.
"As someone who grew up in Western Pennsylvania surrounded by black and gold, seeing Hayden recognized as the Steelers Fan of the Year is incredibly special," said his father Ed Shock, who served in the Gulf War. "The Steelers have been a part of my family and community for generations, so to watch my son carry on that same passion and be honored by the team I've always loved fills me with pride.
"It's more than just football though. It's about tradition, loyalty, and the connection that brings Steelers fans together no matter which stadium we travel to see our Steelers play.
"His strength, positivity, and love for life shined through in everything he does. Seeing him recognized as the Steelers Fan of the Year means so much to our family. As someone who grew up in black and gold country, I couldn't be prouder. He truly represents the spirit of Pittsburgh; resilient, loyal, and full of heart.
"Hayden has been an inspiration to me and to everyone who knows him. Being born deaf, having to quit football in high school due to his scoliosis and having his spine fused from his neck to his tail bone, then finding out two months before graduating from Gallaudet University that he needed a kidney transplant immediately, would upend anyone's life. Yet, he's never let any of it define him
"Words can't express how proud I am of Hayden. He's faced so many challenges in his life. Being born deaf, living with scoliosis, and a kidney transplant recipient. Yet he's never let any of it slow him down or dampen his spirit. He's always approached life with structure, discipline, determination, positivity, and heart. Because of his strong work ethic and discipline, he was always able to balance schoolwork and sports like a pro. He earned his bachelor's degree and two Masters' degrees and is now a Nutrition Coach for transplant recipients.
"He's got that same toughness and never-give-up spirit that Pittsburgh is known for and that's what makes me so proud."
That toughness has been on display since he was born, but grew even more after he had a kidney transplant in his 20s. It was a time when things were dark enough that he could have given up but he chose the opposite route.
He chose to inspire others.
Shock participated in the Transplant Games of America in 2022 and 2024, where he competed alongside his living donor, Audrey Hardwick, in 2024, when they both earned medals. He plans on participating in the games in 2026 as well.
"My motivation to participate in the Transplant Games comes from a place of deep competitive passion and profound gratitude," said Shock. "The Games fulfill a fundamental desire of the pure, thrilling joy of competition. As an athlete, it's the ultimate chance to step onto a stage and show my talent, validating all the rigorous training I've put in. It genuinely feels like living out the dream of being an Olympian, proving what my body can do post-transplant.
"The meaning of the Games, however, goes far beyond the medal count. They are a monument to resilience. Being surrounded by a community of people who have shared the darkness of dialysis and the miracle of a kidney transplant creates an instantaneous, powerful connection. We are a family of fighters, creating unforgettable moments that collectively declare a victory over hardship.
"The Games are a powerful, tangible statement that we can still do many things after a transplant, and in doing so, we are the most passionate advocates, successfully spreading awareness of organ donation to the world."
Hardwick provided Shock with something that could have been life-saving with the kidney transplant, but he provided her with so much more since.
"Hayden is a constant inspiration, especially as a lifelong athlete. He is constantly pushing himself to become the best version of himself every day," said Hardwick. "Competing at the Transplant Games of America helped us not only push ourselves as athletes but also connect with our community of transplant recipients and donors. While he loved competing in the Games for his own personal goals, he also uses events like these as a platform to show others what is possible in life after donation. He is constantly supporting and uplifting others, especially those on their own journey through transplant.
"I'm sure everyone says this, but there is no bigger Steelers fan than Hayden. It's great to see him honored for something he loves, and I'm grateful he has this opportunity to celebrate in this way."
He also works closely with those in the deaf community, doing everything he can to inspire others. And it was one of his friends in that community, someone he has been an inspiration to, who nominated him for the honor of Steelers Fan of the Year.
"As the 2024 Commanders Fan of the Year, and the first deaf person to receive that honor, I know how meaningful the recognition can be," said Dale McCord, who nominated Shock. "I immediately thought of Hayden because he truly embodies what it means to be a fan, not just in spirit, but in how he uses his passion to uplift others. Hayden has been a diehard Steelers fan his entire life, and he lives and breathes black and gold.
"Even though Hayden is deaf, he's one of the 'loudest' and most passionate Steelers fans you'll ever meet. He brings unmatched energy to every game, connecting with fellow fans and even opposing teams with positivity and respect. Win or lose, he's always smiling, always encouraging others, and always finding the bright side. His love for the Steelers goes beyond the game, it's part of who he is.
"Beyond his fandom, he does incredible work in the transplant community and has found creative ways to combine his love for the Steelers with giving back. He's a perfect example of what being a Fan of the Year represents."
Like every mother, Mary Ann Shock wanted nothing but pure joy for her children. Seeing what Hayden would have to go through wasn't easy. But seeing how he handled it was inspirational.
"Hayden's accomplishments and his perspective of life are admirable," said Mary Ann Shock. "Ever since he was a little boy, he faced challenges, discrimination, unfair access to his communication needs, cruel kids and adults, and medical challenges. To have such passionate and intense conversations with your young child is not what any parent wants to do, but we did have those tough talks, and we found other ways to still get Hayden to fulfill his passion. When he could no longer play tackle football, we started flag football. When his coach did not want a 'handicap' kid on his team.
"There was never a challenge he did not accept. He learned some of his discipline, spirit, determination and drive from his Steelers. He had seen them at their lowest and at their best, and how as a team they powered through.
"I am so incredibly proud of him for the son, the brother, the uncle, the Godfather, the nephew, the cousin, the husband and friend that he is because they all have a little bit of Hayden's black and gold blood for generations to come.
"The Terrible Towel acts as his voice the way he proudly waves it with gusto to show his excitement. For a deaf man, he has an amazing football yell."
