Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones and Elijah Higgins, the Arizona Cardinals tight end, both on the left, tour the 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron fire station within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, April 2, 2025. (Mark Colmenares/U.S. Air Force)

The NFL’s Arizona Cardinals tight end, Elijah Higgins, and Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones visited military bases and ran football drills with service members stationed across Kuwait during a USO tour from March 31 to April 4.

This was the first time the USO brought NFL players to Kuwait for immersive unit visits at Camp Arifjan, Camp Buehring and Cargo City. They also visited an air base in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.

“I didn’t know what to expect going out there,” Higgins told Stars and Stripes on Friday. “I gained a lot of respect for the men and women out there after seeing firsthand what the troops do on a day to day, especially out there in the heat during this time of the year.”

The USO planned a four-day itinerary for the players which included traveling to the different bases and getting a glimpse into what service members do on a daily basis while also learning about their different roles and responsibilities in the Middle East.

“These service members are away from their families for six to nine months at a time,” Kevin Arata, military public relations manager, USO, told Stars and Stripes on Thursday. “And so [the USO tour] really just shows folks that we care, and shows people that they [Higgins and Jones] care to be there with them. This was a great opportunity to bring football players down range as part of the NFL and furthering their Salute to Service mission.”

An undated photo of Arizona Cardinals tight end Elijah Higgins (left) and Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones (middle) with a service member in the back of a military vehicle at Camp Buehring in Kuwait. (Kevin Arata/USO)

Capt. Bryan Bonnette, Expeditionary Airlift Squadron C-130J Super Hercules intruder pilot, right, explains the aircraft’s capabilities to Aaron Jones, NFL Minnesota Vikings running back, left, inside the flight deck during an NFL visit within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, April 2, 2025. (Mark Colmenares/U.S. Air Force)

An undated photo of Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones (left) and Arizona Cardinals Elijah Higgins (right) sitting together at the USO center in Camp Buehring, Kuwait. (Kevin Arata/USO)

Capt. Ernesto Montemayor, 40th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron C-130J Super Hercules co-pilot, right, explains the aircraft’s capabilities to Elijah Higgins, Arizona Cardinals tight end, inside the flight deck during an NFL visit within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, April 2, 2025. (Mark Colmenares/U.S. Air Force)

An undated photo of Arizona Cardinals tight end Elijah Higgins (left) with a service member at Camp Buehring in Kuwait. (Kevin Arata/USO)

An undated photo of Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones and Arizona Cardinals tight end Elijah Higgins hold a USO banner with service members at Camp Arifjan in Kuwait. (Kevin Arata/USO)

The two NFL players visited transportation and aviation units where they got to ride in an MRAP, or Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle, and saw M-1 tanks as well as Apache and Blackhawk helicopters. Higgins and Jones also sat in the cockpit of a C-130J Super Hercules and met its crew. Higgins said being in a C-130 was a “full circle moment” because his father — who retired from the Air Force after 28 years of service — used to work on that aircraft during his time in the military.

The USO also brought them to see a K-9 unit, a weapons simulator and a fire and rescue department. The NFL players had the chance to engage with hundreds of service members from different units across all branches and witness their daily routines.

“They were just super down to earth and related so well to the service members,” said Arata. “There were some service members I saw as we interacted that weren’t big football fans, but by the time one of the players walked up to them and started talking, suddenly they were interested. Even if they weren’t necessarily football fans, you could tell that it [the tour] had an impact on them.”

While Higgins and Jones enjoyed their time on the tour, they also aimed to create a memorable experience for the service members by setting up football drills and tossing a ball around.

Aaron Jones, Minnesota Vikings running back, middle-right, and Elijah Higgins, Arizona Cardinals tight end, middle-left, participate in football drills with U.S. Air Force airmen during an installation tour with the USO within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, April 2, 2025. (James Fritz/U.S. Air Force)

Elijah Higgins, Arizona Cardinals tight end, participates in football drills with U.S. Air Force airmen during an installation tour with the USO within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, April 2, 2025. (James Fritz/U.S. Air Force)

Aaron Jones, Minnesota Vikings running back, catches a football during an installation tour with the USO within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, April 2, 2025. (James Fritz/U.S. Air Force)

Elijah Higgins, Arizona Cardinals tight end, participates in football drills with U.S. Air Force airmen during an installation tour with the USO within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, April 2, 2025. (James Fritz/U.S. Air Force)

Elijah Higgins, Arizona Cardinals tight end, participates in football drills with U.S. Air Force airmen during an installation tour with the USO within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, April 2, 2025. (James Fritz/U.S. Air Force)

Aaron Jones, Minnesota Vikings running back, speaks with U.S. Air Force airmen during an installation tour with the USO within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, April 2, 2025. (James Fritz/U.S. Air Force)

“I was actually surprised at how talented some of those guys were, there were some real football players playing which was exciting,” said Higgins. “It allowed us to get more connected through the sport and be in the moment.”

They also joined service members for breakfast, lunch and dinner at the dining facilities, participated in a combat fitness test and challenged the troops in Madden NFL and Call of Duty video game tournaments at the USO center in Camp Buehring.

“I know their days can get really monotonous and they’re out there for a while doing the same thing over and over,” said Higgins. “It was a joy to switch up their routine and give them something to be excited about.”

At one point on the trip, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth spoke with the NFL players on a virtual call and showed his appreciation for them willing to see the service members at the bases in Kuwait.

“Hegseth was very excited to be able to do that because as we had learned, the secretary is a big Minnesota Vikings fan, and so he thought that would be a great opportunity to say thank you,” said Arata.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth hosts a teleconference with NFL players Aaron Jones and Elijah Higgins during their visit to the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing in Kuwait from the Pentagon in Washington, April 2, 2025. (Alexander Kubitza/U.S. Navy)

Higgins and Jones met each other for the first time during the trip, and found that they both share similar backgrounds as military children.

Jones’ parents served in the Army and his older brother currently serves in the Air Force. His late father served 29 years and his mother served 27 years, both retiring at the rank of sergeants major.

While Higgins’ father was in the Air Force, he deployed to Afghanistan three times in his career. Higgins said it was “eye-opening” to visit Kuwait and get a glimpse at the work conditions and environment, similar to what his father experienced.

“Being able to connect with Aaron for the first time was awesome,” said Higgins. “He’s an awesome dude. It was cool to be in an environment like that with him, and obviously having the same background was definitely special.”

The tour to Kuwait was Higgins’ first time working with the USO. He said if an opportunity ever arises to do a similar tour to visit service members, he is willing to do it again and hopes that other NFL players can, too.

“It was definitely a special trip,” said Higgins. “I come from a military family, so I know what it’s like being in that position of having family gone for for an extended amount of time. It was a pretty unique way to give back and bring joy and smiles to the troops out there.”