'I was given a second chance at life': Pittsburgh Steelers Fan of the Year Hayden Shock discusses what the team means to him — and how one person's selfless act changed his life forever

Hayden Shock has been hooked on the Pittsburgh Steelers ever since he watched them win Super Bowl XL in 2006. Although the Steelers had already been part of his life for a while at that point — his father had grown up in western Pennsylvania and introduced his son to the team — it was this Super Bowl that turned Hayden from a regular fan into a superfan, and eventually led him to become the 2025 Steelers Fan of the Year.  

"Watching Jermone Bettis — The Bus — win his final game in his hometown of Detroit was unforgettable," Hayden said. "What kept me invested was everything the Steelers stand for: toughness, resilience, loyalty and community. The Steelers became a constant in my life during some of the hardest moments, something I could rally around no matter what was going on." 

At 33, Hayden has already faced his fair share of challenges. In April 2016, when he was just 23, he was diagnosed with IgA nephropathy (IgAN), a rare disease that causes kidney damage when the immune system produces antibodies in the kidneys. These antibodies trigger inflammation, which can reduce the kidneys' ability to filter waste and fluid from the blood. "I started noticing things like puffy eyes, swollen ankles and foamy urine," Hayden said, describing his symptoms. A trip to the emergency room revealed that his blood pressure was dangerously high, and his kidneys were failing.  

Hayden was completely overwhelmed and bewildered by the diagnosis. "Hearing that my kidneys were failing felt surreal and terrifying," he said. "I remember feeling shocked, scared and confused, wondering how this could happen to me at such a young age." To add to his confusion, Hayden said doctors could not point to a specific trigger or event that caused him to develop IgAN. There was also no history of kidney disease in his family.   

Reeling, Hayden turned to Google for resources on how to move forward with his life while living with kidney disease. That search led him to AKF's website, which he said made a huge difference for him. "Beyond information, AKF gave me direction, encouragement and reassurance that there were ways to live well — even while battling kidney disease," he said. "[AKF's guidance] truly helped me take better care of myself during one of the hardest periods of my life."  

In August 2016, Hayden began hemodialysis. "Dialysis was very challenging for me," he said. "Coping came down to mindset. I understood that dialysis was keeping me alive. In order to survive and eventually get to a transplant, I had to commit to it fully." In addition, Hayden coped by watching his beloved Steelers. "No matter how tough things felt, I always knew I had the Steelers to look forward to," he said. "It became a sense of normalcy during a time when almost nothing felt normal." 

Thankfully, a greater sense of normalcy came on June 20, 2017, when Hayden received a kidney transplant from a woman named Audrey, who Hayden knew from his high school years. "We weren't close friends, which makes her decision even more incredible to me," Hayden said. "She saw my story and chose to step forward purely out of kindness and compassion. It's hard to describe what it feels like knowing someone is willing to undergo major surgery to save your life — especially someone who didn't have to, and who expected nothing in return."  

Today, more than eight years after the transplant, Hayden said he feels fantastic, and he remains immensely grateful to his donor. "Audrey's selfless decision changed my life forever," Hayden said. "Because of her 'yes,' I was given a second chance at life, and that gift is something I carry with me every single day. Her generosity is the reason I continue to spread awareness about organ donation and honor donors in everything I do." 

One of the ways Hayden works to raise awareness about organ donation is through the 13 for LIFE Challenge. Hayden launched this challenge after being named the Steelers Fan of the Year for 2025 — a recognition he received in part because of the work he has already done in support of the transplant community, including his active involvement in the Transplant Games of America and running Shock Nutrition.  

"When I realized the size of the platform I had been given [with being named the Steelers Fan of the Year], I knew I wanted to use it for something bigger than myself," Hayden said. "As I was researching and thinking about how to spread awareness, one statistic stopped me in my tracks, [and that is that] 13 people die every day waiting for an organ transplant. That number stayed with me, and I knew I wanted to honor those lives in a meaningful, visible way." 

Hayden, who goes to the gym daily, has challenged people to do 13 push-ups each day until Super Bowl LX on February 8, which he will have the honor of attending as one of the 32 NFL teams' fans of the year. The push-ups honor the 13 people who are lost daily and encourage conversations about organ donation.  

In addition to his friends, family members and fellow Steelers fans, Steelers wide receivers have participated in the challenge, which Hayden said has brought significant attention to the cause. "That increased visibility allowed the message to reach far beyond my personal network and sparked conversations about organ donation with people who may never have thought about it before," Hayden said. "Knowing that people from all walks of life have taken part shows just how powerful awareness and community can be."  

Hayden said one of the main pieces of advice he gives to people who are struggling with kidney failure is to not give up and take it one day at a time. "Kidney failure and the waiting process can feel overwhelming, but your mindset truly matters," he said. "Focus on what you can control — taking care of your body, following your care plan, and showing up for yourself every day, even on the hard days."  

He also urged people to advocate for themselves and reach out for support. "Learn as much as you can about your condition and your options, and lean on your medical team, family and support system," Hayden said. "You don't have to go through this alone.  Most importantly, hold onto hope. I'm living proof that there is life, strength and purpose on the other side of a transplant."  

If you're interested in becoming a living kidney donor, learn more by visiting AKF's website. AKF provides financial assistance grants to living donors who donate their kidney in certain regions. Learn more here.