More Than a Flyover: The NFL's Salute to Service Puts 32 Nominees and $80 Million Behind America's Military Families

On Veterans Day, the NFL did something that has become too rare in American public life. All 32 clubs stopped to say thank you to the men and women who have worn the uniform, and, as a Fox News sports column put it, the league got through the day without a fumble ^[3].

Every team posted a tribute, most of them on X and the Detroit Lions on Instagram, according to that report ^[3]. The league's own roundup collected messages from the Falcons, Ravens, Bills, Bears, Bengals, Cowboys, Texans, Colts, Jaguars, Chiefs, Dolphins, Patriots, Steelers and Commanders ^[1]. The Baltimore Ravens went a step further, visiting military members and their families at Fort Meade with USAA ^[1].

Those posts were the public face of something bigger. The league's Salute to Service campaign began ahead of Week 9 and runs through Week 11, with all 32 clubs planning game-day tributes, community events and charitable work ^[3]. Since 2011, the program has raised more than $80 million for military nonprofits, working with the Bob Woodruff Foundation, the Pat Tillman Foundation, TAPS, the USO and Wounded Warrior Project ^[3].

Thirty-Two Nominees, One Award

The centerpiece is the Salute to Service Award, now in its 16th year. The NFL and USAA named 32 nominees, one from every club, drawn from players, coaches, staff and alumni ^[2]. The award recognizes people who go above and beyond to honor, empower and connect with the military community, whether through partnerships with veterans groups, hands-on work in the community or efforts rooted in their own military connections ^[2].

The list cuts across the league. It includes Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, Broncos coach Sean Payton, Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald, Vikings running back Aaron Jones, Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson, Panthers linebacker Devin Lloyd, Cardinals tight end Elijah Higgins and Buccaneers lineman Ben Bredeson ^[2]. Kansas City's nominee is NFL Legend Kendall Gammon ^[2].

"These nominees exemplify a commitment to something bigger than the game," said Anna Isaacson, the NFL's senior vice president of social responsibility ^[2].

Fans get a say. Voting is open at NFL.com/SaluteFanVote, one vote per nominee per day, through 11:59 p.m. Eastern on Monday, Nov. 30 ^[2]. The fan vote helps narrow the field to three finalists, who will be announced in January ^[2]. A panel of judges then picks the winner, who will be honored at NFL Honors during Super Bowl LXI week in Los Angeles ^[2]. USAA will give $25,000 in the recipient's name to the official aid societies of all the military branches, and the NFL Foundation will add another $25,000 for the recipient's chosen military nonprofit ^[2].

A Panel That Knows Service

The judges include last year's winner, San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey; Chad Hennings, an Air Force Academy graduate and three-time Super Bowl champion; 2019 recipient Donnie Edwards; USAA's Bob Whittle; and NFL chief financial officer Christine Dorfler, an Army veteran ^[2].

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McCaffrey's work shows what this award is about. Through his foundation's 23 and Troops initiative, launched in 2021, he helps veterans, especially from the Special Operations community, get the same level of care that elite athletes receive ^[2]. The league says the foundation has invested nearly $700,000 in military support, including trauma healing through REBOOT Recovery and medical care through Resilience Code ^[2].

Some of that service sits right in an NFL locker room. Chiefs Wire, in a story carried by Yahoo Sports, highlighted Kansas City linebacker Cole Christiansen, who played four seasons at Army before spending the last five seasons with the Chiefs ^[4]. He has been elevated from the practice squad this season and had three tackles entering Week 10, the outlet reported ^[4].

Why It Matters

In a culture that too often treats patriotism as something to apologize for, it is good to see America's most popular sport stand up straight and say thank you, and then back it up with real dollars and real care.

Football borrows plenty of military language: the trenches, the blitz, the long bomb. But the people who have actually served know the difference between a game and a war. That is why programs like this matter. They turn Sunday sentiment into Monday help: care for wounded veterans, support for grieving families, and a reminder to millions of fans that freedom has never been free.

Jesus taught that there is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends (John 15:13). Many of the men and women honored this month were willing to do exactly that. The least a nation of football fans can do is notice, say thank you, and help where we can.

What Comes Next

Salute to Service games continue through Week 11 ^[3]. Fans can vote daily through Nov. 30, the three finalists will be named in January, and the winner will be honored during Super Bowl week ^[2]. If you have a few seconds each day this month, it is a vote worth casting.