NFL announces Salute to Service Award nominees

Updated Nov. 11, 2020 12:01 p.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

NEW YORK (AP) — Nominees for the NFL's annual Salute to Service Award for this year include players, coaches, team executives, and even cheerleaders.

The award, sponsored by the league and USAA, recognizes current NFL personnel and alumni who demonstrate an exemplary commitment to honoring and supporting the military community. Each nominee is selected by his or her NFL club, with finalists scheduled to be announced in January. The recipient — last year, it was former NFL linebacker Donnie Edwards — will be recognized at NFL Honors, the prime-time awards special the week of the Super Bowl at which The Associated Press individual honors are announced.

As the presenting sponsor of the Salute to Service Award, USAA will contribute $25,000 in the recipient’s name to the official aid societies representing all five military branches. The NFL will match USAA’s contribution of $25,000, which will be donated to the award recipient’s military charity of choice.

“The 2020 nominees for the ‘Salute to Service Award presented by USAA’ demonstrate the depth and widespread appreciation and support for the military community across the NFL,” Tony Wells, USAA's chief brand officer and a former Marine officer, said as the nominees were revealed on Veterans Day.

“During a trying year for all Americans, each of these nominees deserves this moment of special recognition for their passionate support of those who chose to serve. We congratulate these nominees and say thank you to America’s military families.”

The nominees:

Arizona: Justin Pugh, guard

Atlanta: Steve Cannon, CEO

Baltimore: Ravens Cheerleaders

Buffalo: Harrison Phillips, defensive tackle

Carolina: Christian McCaffrey, running back

Chicago: Jimmy Graham, tight end

Cincinnati: Jim Turner, offensive line coach

Cleveland: Andy Janovich, fullback

Dallas: Charlotte Jones, executive vice president and chief brand officer

Denver: Andrew Beck, tight end

Detroit: Eric Hipple, former quarterback

Green Bay: Tom Bakken, equipment manager

Houston: Hannah and Cal McNair, owners

Indianapolis: Brian Decker, director of player development

Jacksonville: Sean Karpf, strength and conditioning associate

Kansas City: Eric Fisher, tackle

Las Vegas: Jerry Robinson, former linebacker

Los Angeles Chargers: James Collins, director of football/medical services

Los Angeles Rams: Andrew Whitworth, tackle

Miami: Malcolm Perry, wide receiver

Minnesota: Austin Cutting, long snapper

New England: Joe Cardona, long snapper

New Orleans: Latavius Murray, running Back

New York Giants: Michael Strahan, former defensive end

New York Jets: Steve Castleton, military and law enforcement team liaison

Philadelphia: George Mateo, game day staff supervisor

Pittsburgh: Jon Kolb, former tackle and coach

San Francisco: John Lynch, general manager

Seattle: Mike Flood, community outreach vice president

Tampa Bay: Ryan Jensen, center

Tennessee: Floyd Hyde, stadium safety manager

Washington: Ryan Kerrigan, linebacker

___

More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL

share

in this topic

National Football League

Latavius Murray

Joe Cardona

Christian McCaffrey

Austin Cutting

Ryan Jensen

Andrew Whitworth

Ryan Kerrigan

Eric Fisher

Justin Pugh

Harrison Phillips

Jimmy Graham

Andy Janovich

Andrew Beck