There was the annual exchanging of expensive gifts among NFL teammates again this season, but there was much more significant sharing beyond the locker rooms.
Sure, there were the fun gifts such as:
Aaron Donald buying all of his Los Angeles Rams teammates a bottle of Dom Perignon
Jared Goff and Todd Gurley getting their offensive linemen Polaris vehicles
Saquon Barkley giving each of his offensive linemen $2,000 for a shopping spree
Chargers offensive lineman Forrest Lamp giving -- you guessed it -- lamps to all of his teammates
Carson Wentz giving his offensive linemen top-shelf coolers
Dolphins Laremy Tunsil and Ju’Wuan James getting Bird scooters for their offensive linemen
But NFL players didn't limit their generosity to teammates. In fact, players from each team touched the lives of fans or people in their communities who aren't as well off. From victims of crime to survivors of natural disasters to those who could just use a hand, NFL players made the holidays a little brighter for many. The Steelers decided to sing carols at the police station in Squirrel Hill, the site of a tragic shooting earlier in the year.
Our players teamed up with Aliquippa Church in the Round Choir to sing Christmas carols to the Pittsburgh Police Zone Four Station. pic.twitter.com/z2UYHwOokG
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) December 20, 2018
When you're a rookie surrounded by vets on an annual Christmas caroling trip... 😂
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) December 25, 2018
It's the thought that counts, @all_in_adams! 🎄🎶🎁 pic.twitter.com/4mHM9fkWjx
.@AtlantaFalcons guard and Air Force Captain @BenGarland63 spread some holiday cheer by surprising a few remarkable people in Atlanta with a special gift... #SuperBowlSurprise #SalutetoService pic.twitter.com/VjRe8H38Tq
— NFL (@NFL) December 21, 2018
.@KyleRudolph82 guided @umnchildrens patients to Santa's headquarters last week during his annual Red Eye to the North Pole event. #WPMOYChallenge Rudolph pic.twitter.com/XXtA1NNxfR
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) December 25, 2018
Thanks to all who helped us raise $141,669 for the Salvation Army this holiday season! @AaronRodgers12 matched donations from the autograph signings up to $50,000, & also donated $100 for each child at his surprise pizza party.#PackersGiveBack 📰: https://t.co/Ps6EtL4ANA pic.twitter.com/8eJejzNTmC
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) December 26, 2018
I don't know if anyone has a heart as big as @saints linebacker @demario__davis. Today he surprised the family of shooting victim Sam Butler with a van they desperately needed. Demario is the real deal & should make us all proud to be a part of #WhoDatNation @TeamSam12 @wdsu pic.twitter.com/hhtEvIPIKi
— Juliana Mazza (@JulianaWDSU) December 20, 2018
Today me and the #Titans showed up at Kroger's and handed out 15 gift cards for $150 to help people grocery shop for the holidays @titans just wanted to thank you and @kroger for the opportunity to be able to put smile on On our Tennesseans faces for the holidays pic.twitter.com/OEQqbIvm1S
— Delanie walker (@delaniewalker82) December 21, 2018
.@RoquanSmith1 of the @ChicagoBears helped distribute 225 winter coats at St. Malachy School in Chicago along with @Dreambuilders_1. pic.twitter.com/LukuGeJN0E
— NFLPA (@NFLPA) December 10, 2018
Rhett Ellison of the @Giants partnered with homeless outreach center Project Kind to distribute 2500 pounds of rice to local community organizations and food pantries across the Newark area. pic.twitter.com/Kb5Y82ZumF
— NFLPA (@NFLPA) December 10, 2018
Proud to always give back...big thx to @Burlington and the @SalArmyCM for making it happen for the Crab5 Foundation Coat Giveaway
— Michael Crabtree (@KingCrab15) December 21, 2018
thx to @PapaJohnsBal for feeding all the kids that came... pic.twitter.com/72eEDXiZEY
Kyle Van Noy @KVN_03 of the @Patriots and his wife Marissa hosted a holiday celebration for 253 foster families. There, they gave out 253 Christmas trees, 600 new winter coats and 1200 new toys, coloring books and crayons. pic.twitter.com/nH3Ht5HDR9
— NFLPA (@NFLPA) December 10, 2018
Earlier this week, the #Eagles and @Bethesda_Proj teamed up to donate coats to more than 250 people in need. #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/uyJ8uI7f0p
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) December 21, 2018
Thanks to @RamsNFL for yesterday's shopping spree with families at @Walmart. The event was a huge success and made the holidays extra special for some local families! pic.twitter.com/vD0j9ujSCY
— The Salvation Army California South (@SalArmyCalSouth) December 19, 2018
Last night @DomataPeko and his family surprised 8 families he adopted for the holidays with a special festive experience at the @uchealth Training Center! #BeAChampion 🎅🎄 pic.twitter.com/z6V5gtaMPD
— Broncos Off Field (@BroncosOffField) December 22, 2018
Tis' the season of giving!
— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) December 22, 2018
Thank you to @Academy for letting #DallasCowboys @TCrawford98 and @TankLawrence help surprise 100 kids with new bikes and helmets! pic.twitter.com/vZOGOUTW9e
.@tj_carrie of the @Browns visited families in the new cardiac step down unit at University Hospital's Rainbow Baby & Childrens Hospital. TJ, who had open heart surgery as a kid, distributed "Heart Shadow Buddies" for patients to have as comfort while at the hospital. pic.twitter.com/GjpEyUXyqb
— NFLPA (@NFLPA) December 24, 2018
'Tis the season 🎁!
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) December 24, 2018
RB Joe Mixon, DE Michael Johnson, CB Darqueze Dennard, C Brad Lundblade, and #Bengals 2018 Walter Payton Man of the Year award nominee DE Carlos Dunlap participated in Marvin Lewis Community Fund's Shop with a Pro!#WPMOYChallenge + Dunlap pic.twitter.com/Kor5oCpcQw
"Buffalo embraced me and my family. We've been here for two years and giving back to this community is important to us."
— Buffalo Bills (@buffalobills) December 26, 2018
Why @Micah_Hyde made a special Christmas delivery for kids in Buffalo: https://t.co/fcaRBKhtnY pic.twitter.com/aefasDSXTt
"That's why I feel like I'm here. That's what I feel like my calling is - to help people."@MikeEvans13_ spent the holidays giving back to kids in Tampa Bay.
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) December 26, 2018
📽: @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/m2mDJRnqiX
Cliff Avril, along with Jacob Martin and Poona Ford, surprise unsuspecting shoppers for a little holiday cheer! 🕵️♂️💫 pic.twitter.com/xwLn6HeR0Z
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) December 22, 2018
ICYMI: @juliuspeppers_ makes this family's Christmas unforgettable#WPMOYChallenge + Peppers https://t.co/hTPQwDtjcI
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) December 26, 2018
The @49ers LBs got together to purchase Christmas gifts from the wish lists of four families in need from @BGClubSV 🎁
— 49ers Community (@49ersCommunity) December 24, 2018
Share your acts of kindness this holiday season with #49Acts for the chance to win a @Visa gift card! https://t.co/AtblbXi8rw pic.twitter.com/SCFMe0EmVM
It was a honor to participate in @DPENN70 Shopping with a Jock this Christmas. We were lucky to help 25 kids from the East Oakland Youth Development Center shop for themselves & family members for Christmas. Thank you to everyone that made this community event a special one! pic.twitter.com/3FNaIVKiYL
— Cameron Hunt (@cjhunt78) December 27, 2018
25 students went on a #Jets shopping spree this holiday season with @NYPD75Pct at @Modells! pic.twitter.com/zqkLPhnimd
— New York Jets (@nyjets) December 26, 2018
Go behind the scenes from @AkeemSpence's holiday gift delivery in South Florida! #TeamworkAtWork
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) December 26, 2018
Full Gallery >> https://t.co/m5vppWlWl2
Week 1 #CommunityMVP @Melvingordon25 of the @Chargers was at it again with the first initiative of his @BeyondFlashFDN: a Winter Wonderland event that provided food for 1,000 kids from @SecondHarvestFB pantry so that they are nourished over winter break. pic.twitter.com/OPlB2MyYIc
— NFLPA (@NFLPA) December 24, 2018
.@Kahlil_Mckenzie of the @Chiefs brought holiday cheer to Sheffield Place, a local transitional living center that empowers homeless mothers & their kids to heal and become self-sufficient. Kahlil made rice krispies treat Christmas trees, read holiday stories & distributed gifts pic.twitter.com/KRYkMBucPL
— NFLPA (@NFLPA) December 24, 2018
Happy Holidays! The #Lions teamed with @CityYearDetroit to bring cheer to Detroit Public Schools students this year. pic.twitter.com/Y0AiDeaJFu
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) December 24, 2018
.@DavidJohnson31 presented Holly Rose with two Super Bowl tickets for her hard work in cancer prevention here in Phoenix.
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) December 26, 2018
Holly, a Breast Cancer Survivor, founded @checkforalump.
For more information on her organization, visit https://t.co/UdIEHgWlOI pic.twitter.com/YHYc8NS0IF
"It's just a small token of appreciation that she deserves, and I am glad I was able to do that."#WPMOY nominee @Merci380 surprised Elise from Easter Seals with Super Bowl tickets. pic.twitter.com/QzyG0RcdkI
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) December 24, 2018
Calais @Campbell93 of the @Jaguars took 40 kids out on a $200 holiday shopping spree and hosted a pizza party afterwards. pic.twitter.com/c57o9XQLcY
— NFLPA (@NFLPA) December 24, 2018
.@DhaSickest making spirits bright. ✨
— Washington Redskins (@Redskins) December 19, 2018
Santa Guice 🎅 made a special visit to @InovaHealth today to hand out toys and spread some holiday cheer. pic.twitter.com/58KF4q6pH2