Chesterfield Township, Michigan — Aidan Hutchinson, a defensive end for the Detroit Lions, recently paid a visit to Jacob Rinehart’s home, creating an unforgettable moment for the young Marine. Rinehart’s stepmother, Audrey Cox, welcomed Hutchinson into their home as he navigated with crutches due to a severe leg injury he sustained a month prior, breaking it in two places.
“What’s up guys?” Hutchinson greeted with a smile. Rinehart, still in disbelief, later expressed, “I’m sitting here and Aidan Hutchinson walks in the door. I about dropped dead.”
Rinehart, who faced a daunting prognosis following a training mishap that left him with a spinal injury, initially assumed the gathering of visitors, cameras, and lights in his house was related to Cox’s job. However, that was not the case. Cox had shared her stepson’s story through the Lions’ official website with little expectation of a reply.
The Lions responded to her story, collaborating with Verizon, a major NFL sponsor, to create a series of astonishing surprises for Rinehart as part of the Verizon Access initiative, designed to provide unique experiences at NFL events.
Hutchinson made the trip to Rinehart’s home, bringing with him four tickets for Detroit’s Thanksgiving game against the Chicago Bears, alongside an autographed No. 97 jersey and an Amon-Ra St. Brown No. 14 jersey. During the visit, Rinehart was connected with St. Brown through FaceTime, who excitedly invited him to choose a celebration for him to perform when he scored against the Bears.
“That’s probably the coolest thing that’s happened to me in, like, I don’t know, 20 years, and I’ve only been alive for 20 years,” Rinehart said, clearly elated.
Hutchinson, too, seemed touched by the experience. Having frequently visited pediatric patients in hospitals, he holds a deep respect for the military, driven in part by his great-grandfather’s service in World War II as part of “Merrill’s Marauders.”
“It inspires everybody when they see what these kids go through and how they persevere,” Hutchinson stated, reflecting on the challenges faced by individuals like Rinehart. “It puts life in perspective.”
A film crew was present to capture the heartwarming series of surprises, intended for Verizon’s social media platforms and a promo video that will be showcased to fans during the Lions’ upcoming home game against Green Bay.
On Thanksgiving morning, Rinehart had the opportunity to watch the warm-ups at Ford Field, where he was greeted by team owner Sheila Ford Hamp, who surprised him with two Super Bowl tickets. St. Brown also made an appearance, signing Rinehart’s jersey and asking if he had a touchdown celebration planned.
Rinehart recalled, “He said, ‘What’s up?’ and asked me if I had a TD celly for him.” Rinehart suggested a salute, to which St. Brown said he would do.
Experiencing the kickoff introductions on the field made Rinehart’s day even more surreal. Afterward, he was greeted in a suite by 20 family members and friends ready to watch the game with him. “I guess it was a bigger surprise than I thought,” he remarked.
This month was particularly special for Rinehart. In the fall of 2023, just two months into his training in South Carolina and a week away from a challenging military exercise known as “The Crucible,” his life took a drastic turn following an accident that left him paralyzed from the neck down. “They told me I’d never walk again,” he shared, recalling the grim diagnosis.
After months of rehabilitation, Rinehart has made great strides and can now walk independently, a testament to his determination. His stepmother, Cox, expressed her disbelief at how a simple story submission led to such a remarkable chain of events, stating, “I cannot believe this tiny little submission I put in sparked this giant roller coaster that we’re now on.”
