Dallas Cowboys Lineman Pays Tribute to Wife’s UNT Health PA Program With Custom Cleats

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UNT Health Fort Worth took its place on football’s biggest stage on Sunday.

As part of the NFL’s “My Cause My Cleats” campaign, Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman Brock Hoffman featured the Physician Assistant Studies program at UNT Health Fort Worth, a tribute inspired by his wife, Abbey Montoya, a first-year PA student.

“My wife works incredibly hard in PA school, and I get to see what she and her classmates go through every day,” Hoffman said. “Seeing her dedication has given me a deeper appreciation for the medical field and for the people who devote their lives to helping others.”

Montoya, a Colorado native and former collegiate softball player, began her journey at UNT Health after the couple relocated to North Texas when Hoffman joined the Cowboys in 2021.

The two met as student-athletes at Coastal Carolina University, later reconnecting after Hoffman transferred to Virginia Tech.

“We came to Fort Worth because Brock was here,” Montoya said. “I always knew I wanted to go to PA school, and once Brock had some stability in the NFL, I started applying to programs in Texas. When I got into UNT Health, it was an easy decision — it was the perfect fit for both of us.”

Hoffman’s cleats featured the UNT Health logo and imagery tied to the PA program’s mission of preparing compassionate health care providers. He wore them during pregame warmups before participating in the NFL’s charity auction benefiting the organizations selected by each player.

“UNT Health’s PA program represents exactly what this initiative is about — people who dedicate themselves to helping others,” Hoffman said.

This marks Hoffman’s third year supporting a cause through the leaguewide initiative, which allows players to wear custom cleats that showcase causes meaningful to them.

In 2023, he honored the American Brain Tumor Association in recognition of his mother’s diagnosis. The following year, he promoted the Derrick James Family Foundation, which aids underprivileged youth in Dallas.

“Our students train to make a real difference in their communities, and seeing that commitment recognized on a national stage is both humbling and inspiring,” said Lauren Dobbs, chair of UNT Health’s Department of Physician Assistant Studies.