AirPods not connecting to iPhone I have tried everything in this article

My AirPods are not connecting to my iPhone 11 (version 15.3.1) and I tried 1) forgetting the device on Bluetooth, 2) following on screen directions and holding the charging case button after pressing connect (which does nothing) 2) turning off phone, 3) following the directions on the Apple support page. The AirPods do not appear in my “other devices” list and that wheel keeps spinning. I even had two teens try to connect them and they are baffled.