Steelers’ Alejandro Villanueva Writes Name of Army Hero on His Helmet Instead of BLM Message

A former captain in the U.S. Army who served three tours in Afghanistan and now is a lineman for the Steelers stood up against the BLM propaganda infiltrating the NFL.

Pittsburgh Steelers’ lineman Alejandro Villanueva stayed away from the BLM  “woke ” message and wore the name of a fallen Army hero on his helmet instead.

During Monday night’s game against the Giants, Villanueva decided not to wear Antwon Rose Jr.’s name on his helmet like the rest of his team and wrote  Alywn Cashe’s name as an alternative.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Alwyn Cashe died after he attempted to rescue his fellow soldiers who were burning inside a vehicle that was on fire from a roadside bomb explosion.

Villanueva, a former captain in the U.S. Army was seen covering Antwon Rose's name with that of Alwyn Cash.​ https://t.co/zEQkjxNA0q

— FOX26Houston (@FOX26Houston) September 15, 2020

Steelers’ lineman Alejandro Villanueva wore the name of a fallen Army hero on his helmet during Monday night’s game against the New York Giants, breaking away from the team’s decision to wear Antwon Rose Jr.’s name on their helmets for the entire season. https://t.co/GIbBRWEn8S

— FOX 32 News (@fox32news) September 16, 2020

In a world full of Colin Kaepernick's we need more Alejandro Villanueva's. This former Army Ranger, wore the name of war hero Alwyn Cashe on his helmet instead of a social justice message. This is what true courage looks like 🇺🇸 https://t.co/y7mi96KQxx

— Victoria Laird (@vlaird007) September 16, 2020

HONORING A HERO: Steelers’ player Alejandro Villanueva breaks with his team’s social justice message to instead wear the name of fallen Army hero Alwyn C. Cashe on his helmet. https://t.co/3E2q88vAZt

— Fox & Friends First (@FoxFriendsFirst) September 16, 2020

Fox News covered the full story and reported these details:

Pittsburgh Steelers’ lineman Alejandro Villanueva wore the name of a fallen Army hero on his helmet during Monday night’s game against the New York Giants, breaking away from the team’s decision to wear Antwon Rose Jr.’s name on their helmets for the entire season.

Villanueva, a former captain in the U.S. Army who served three tours in Afghanistan and became an Army Ranger before joining the NFL in 2014, was seen covering Rose’s name with that of Alwyn Cashe.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Alwyn C. Cashe died in 2005 after attempting to rescue fellow soldiers from a burning vehicle following a roadside bomb in Samarra, Iraq, on Oct. 17, according to the Military Times. He suffered second- and third-degree burns over 70 percent of his body, eventually succumbing to those injuries on Nov. 5.

Villanueva was the sole member to deviate from the team’s plan to wear the name of Rose, a 17-year-old Black teen who was shot and killed by a police officer in 2018.

I have absolutely no issue w/honoring Alwyn Cashe.

Doesn’t mean we can’t ask Al a)why he departed from what team did, & b)why he was ok covering Antwon Rose Jr.’s name.

It would give him a chance to describe why a posthumous Medal of Honor for Sgt. Cashe is so important to him. pic.twitter.com/D802hmCdpF

— Chris Mack (@THEChrisMack) September 15, 2020

CBS News covered the story too:

Steelers offensive lineman Alejandro Villanueva chose to cover the name of police shooting victim Antwon Rose Jr. on the back of his helmet during Pittsburgh’s game against the Giants on Monday. Villanueva chose instead to write the name Alwyn Cashe, a veteran who died during the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2005.

As the NFL has allowed players to wear helmet decals honoring the victims of systemic racism, the Steelers decided as a team to honor Rose — a Black teenager shot in the back by a white police officer in Pittsburgh in 2018 after he ran from a vehicle that was pulled over — for the entirety of the season.

Villanueva, a former Army Ranger who served three tours in Afghanistan, decided to break from the team and replace Rose’s name with Cashe’s, a Sgt. 1st Class who died after trying to rescue soldiers from a burning vehicle in Iraq. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday that he approved of his player’s decision.

This isn’t the first time Villanueva hasn’t followed the crowd.

In 2017 he was the only Steeler player to come out and stand for the national anthem during a team protest.

Steelers LT and Army veteran Alejandro Villanueva stands near the tunnel during the national anthem. pic.twitter.com/k0UuWTbRnT

— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) September 24, 2017

Steelers coach rips Vet Army Ranger Villanueva for not being 'respectful of his team'-stands during National Anthem https://t.co/tdj7TjYRpB pic.twitter.com/DFfs5n81DN

— The Cain Gang (@THEHermanCain) September 25, 2017