NFL Friendship Tour

The Houston Texans Cheerleaders
With intricate dance routines, attractive uniforms and irresistible charisma, the beautiful women of the Houston Texans Cheerleaders are a vital part of the game day experience for Texans fans. Since their inception in 2002, the Houston Texans Cheerleaders have been one of the National Football League’s most exciting sideline squads, proudly participating in the 2007 Super Bowl Dance Champions. Taking pride in projecting a modern, cutting-edge image, their choreography is fresh and demanding, The Houston Texans Cheerleaders may be best known for their entertainment on the sidelines at Houston Texans games; however, they spend the majority of their time volunteering and working in the community.

Adam Hayward: #57
College: Portland State
Hometown: Westminster, CA

Adam Hayward entered the NFL as a sixth-round pick (182nd overall) by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2007 NFL Draft. A Long Beach, CA native, Hayward is an athletic linebacker and a standout special teams performer who possesses exceptional speed and pursuit skills. In his first four seasons, Hayward has appeared in 59 career games with four starts, including one playoff contest. His career numbers include 41 defensive tackles and 56 special teams tackles, as well as one sack, one pass defensed, and a fumble recovery on both defense and special teams.

Hayward has quickly established himself as a leader on the field and in the community, and in December 2010 was named the Buccaneers 2010 Man of the Year and the team’s finalist for this year's NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year award. Having lost his mother to breast cancer in 2004, Hayward is actively involved in fundraising for cancer research. He served as the 2010 Ambassador for the Florida Suncoast Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Honorary Chair for Komen’s second annual Pink Tie Gala and Chair for the charity's largest fundraiser, the Florida Suncoast Race for the Cure, which raised more than $1 million in October 2010 to support breast cancer research. As the Honorary Chair, he not only shared his story with the more than 10,000 race day participants, but completed the 5K race on October 2. While Hayward has focused his community outreach on breast cancer awareness, he has remained an active participant in various other philanthropic efforts. He has visited servicemen and women recovering from injury at a local Veterans Hospital in Tampa and has traveled to Bahrain, the Persian Gulf, Spain and Italy to greet U.S. Naval troops stationed overseas. Hayward has also participated in the Buccaneers' annual "Day of Giving" events, surprising needy families with gifts, tickets and a shopping spree in December 2008, 2009 and 2010. Participating in bowling outings for underprivileged youth, visiting patients at children's hospitals and appearing at a variety of charity functions, accompanied by his growing accomplishments on and off the field, have helped establish Hayward as an emerging star in Tampa Bay.

Sammie Stroughter: #18
College: Oregon State
Hometown: Sacramento, CA

Sammie Stroughter entered the NFL as a seventh-round selection (233rd overall) by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2009 NFL Draft. A Vallejo, CA native, Stroughter had a standout rookie season in 2009 and has emerged as a popular target among the Buccaneers’ extremely young and up-and-coming receiving corps. In his first two seasons, Stroughter has appeared in 25 games with four starts, accumulating 55 receptions for 573 yards and one touchdown. He has also been exceptional on kickoff returns, with 14 career kickoff returns for 403 yards, including a 97-yard touchdown against Carolina (10/18/09), tied for the longest kickoff return in Buccaneers history. For his efforts against Carolina, Stroughter was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for Week Six of 2009.

Off the field, Stroughter has been an active member of the Tampa Bay community. The wide receiver has visited high schools to speak about the importance of education and hard work in preparation for standardized testing, and has visited children’s hospitals to distribute teddy bears and greet patients. He has also participated in arts and crafts with children at after-school programs and volunteered at the team’s Halloween party to entertain underprivileged youth with games and haunted houses. Stroughter is a regular participant in team events, including the Buccaneers’ Draft Party, FanFest and Kickoff Party, where he happily signs autographs and greets fans.

Stroughter is one of the most accomplished football players in the history of the Oregon State, where he earned Pac-10 First Team honors and Third Team All-America accolades. He is among the top players in school history in receiving yards and punt returns and has been honored by the National Football Foundation for academic and athletic excellence.