As far as the regular season goes, there are few games bigger than Monday Night Football. Under the lights and in the national spotlight, there is no better time to celebrate the healthcare heroes and frontline medical workers who have given so much over the last nine months.
Before the Patriots and Bills kicked off on Monday night, the team honored healthcare heroes with cutouts in the stands. Fans could submit their favorite nurse, doctor, physician assistant and more as a way to say thank you for all they've done throughout the pandemic.
When the Patriots took the field for pre-game warmups, they were wearing t-shirts honoring those fans who work tirelessly in the medical field, but for some Patriots players, it truly is personal.
Adrian Phillips, Gunner Olszewski and Chase Winovich sported t-shirts featuring their own heroes during pre-game warmups.
For Phillips, it's his wife, Dr. Camille Phillips, a second-year pediatric resident. While Adrian is doing his job in Foxborough, Camille is working in the pediatric ICU at Texas Tech. Adrian said Camille is his inspiration.
"To see her get up and put on her cape every day and go out there and be the best doctor she can," Adrian said. "If they aren't quitting, there's no reason I should be quitting either."
Winovich's sister, Ariana Winovich, is a physician assistant in Pittsburgh, and he expressed his gratitude for all of those who are working to fight the pandemic head on, including his sister.
"I'm really thankful to not only her but all frontline workers around this great country making sure we're safe each and every day," Chase said.
Gunner's good friend, Jillian Olsovsky, is a nurse in Houston. She has always been there for Gunner, he said, and when it was Jillian's time of adversity this year, Gunner was there for her in return.
"She always supported me playing football," Gunner said. "So I'm going to support her being a nurse when it's her game time per se. During the pandemic, I was right there with her."
You can check out a video of Adrian, Chase and Gunner thanking the healthcare heroes in their below.
