Nolan played a number of sports growing up but always gravitated to football.

He participates in basketball, soccer, and track in the Special Olympics, and played kicker for his high school football team. Even after his graduation in 2010, he stuck around the Belt Huskies as a squad manager, giving him a sense of purpose and normalcy.

Playing catch with Judon at Allegiant Stadium was the latest happy memory the game of football has given Nolan, but probably not the last.

“It’s really important because when Nolan was younger, he really never did communicate very well with other people. His communication skills weren’t really developed yet. But the more he was around people in school and in sports that definitely helped him develop. He’s just been thriving.”