Finalists Announced for the 15th Annual NFL Salute to Service Award Presented by USAA

The NFL and USAA, an official NFL Salute to Service partner, announced Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones Sr., San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey and Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson as finalists for the 15th annual Salute to Service Award presented by USAA.

Jones, Sr., McCaffrey and Ferguson are being recognized for their exceptional efforts to honor and support members of the military community. The Salute to Service Award recipient will be recognized at NFL Honors on February 5 during Super Bowl LX in San Francisco.

“The finalists for the 15th Annual Salute to Service Award presented by USAA have used their platforms to be exceptional advocates for the military community, reminding us that service doesn’t stop when the uniform comes off,” said Major General (Retired) Bob Whittle, Senior Vice President and Head of Military Affairs at USAA. “The NFL and USAA applaud Jake Ferguson, Aaron Jones, Sr., and Christian McCaffrey as deserving finalists who have demonstrated exactly what the award stands for – using the power of football to connect with, empower, appreciate and uplift our service members, veterans and their families.”

For the past 15 seasons, the Salute to Service Award has been an integral part of the NFL’s and USAA’s year-round commitment to recognize the military and veteran community. As the presenting sponsor of the award, USAA, a leading provider of insurance, banking and financial services to U.S. military members, veterans and their families, will contribute $25,000 in the recipient’s name to official aid societies representing all U.S. military branches. The NFL Foundation will match USAA’s contribution by donating an additional $25,000 to the recipient’s military non-profit charity of choice. The award nominees from each team were announced in October and consist of current and former players, coaches and front office staff. To learn more about all 32 nominees and their stories, visit the link here.

Fans once again played a role in determining the award’s three finalists through an online vote. Fans’ favorite nominees were then evaluated through a combination of feedback from an NFL internal committee and USAA. The three finalists are assessed on the positive impact of their support for the military community, the nature and scope of their service, the thoroughness of their efforts, and their overall level of commitment.

A panel of judges, consisting of representatives from the U.S. military community, the NFL and USAA, will determine the final Salute to Service Award recipient. The judging panel includes:

• Major General (Ret.) Bob Whittle, USAA Senior Vice President, Head of Military Affairs and Army veteran
• George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers tight end and 2024 Salute to Service Award recipient
• Chad Hennings, Air Force Academy graduate and three-time Super Bowl champion
• Jim Mora, Sr., Marine Corps veteran and former NFL head coach
• Christina Dorfler, NFL Chief Financial Officer and Army veteran

Through the league’s Salute to Service initiative, the NFL and its teams unite to honor, empower and connect with service members, veterans and their families. To learn more about the Salute to Service Award presented by USAA, please visit NFL.com/Salute.

Below are overviews of this year’s three finalists and their exceptional efforts to honor and support members of the military community:

Aaron Jones, Sr., Minnesota Vikings running back

Aaron honors current and former U.S. military personnel through his A&A All the Way Foundation, founded by Aaron and his brother and inspired by his own family’s deep military roots and creating opportunities for support. His late father served 29 years in the U.S. Army, and his mother served 27 years, both retiring as sergeants major. His older brother, Xavier, currently serves in the U.S. Air Force.

His dedication to the military community connects families and young people navigating the challenges of deployment, relocation, and transition by providing resources and care. Aaron hosts annual galas to raise money for military families, and in August, he hosted a back-to-school event focused on equipping students from military families with classroom supplies and encouragement they need to thrive.

Last spring, Aaron spent time on an NFL-USO Tour, where he visited U.S. service members stationed at military bases in Kuwait, Bahrain, and United Arab Emirates. Included on the tour were visits to Camp Buehring and Camp Arifjan, the latter of which held special significance as his mother had previously been stationed there.

Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers running back

Christian McCaffrey’s commitment to the military community stems from a deep respect for service and a belief in supporting mental and physical wellness. Through the Christian McCaffrey Foundation, he honors and empowers veterans, especially those in Special Operations, with holistic health resources.

23 and Troops, the foundation’s flagship initiative, launched in 2021 and focuses on healing from post-traumatic stress using athlete-level care. McCaffrey advocates for veterans to be treated as athletes and receive the same elite treatment. The foundation has invested nearly $700,000 in military support, including $250,000 to REBOOT Recovery for trauma healing and another $250,000 to Resilience Code for personalized medical care.

The foundation also paid off holiday layaway balances for 515 military families. McCaffrey also actively participates in Salute to Service, connecting with active-duty members, veterans, and Gold Star families, and showcases 23 and Troops through the league’s My Cause My Cleats initiative.

Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys tight end

Since being drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in 2022, tight end Jake Ferguson has made it a priority to honor, empower, and connect service members, veterans, and their families. He partners with USAA to visit local military bases and spend meaningful time with those currently serving.

Ferguson pays tribute to the sacrifices of service members by actively supporting the National Medal of Honor Museum (NMOHM) and its mission to inspire future generations of character-driven leaders. In 2024, he joined NMOHM President and CEO Chris Cassidy, Medal of Honor recipient and retired U.S. Navy SEAL Master Chief Britt Slabinski, and Washington Commanders legend Josh Morgan for a national Character Playbook LIVE event at AT&T Stadium. The event welcomed 900 students in person and thousands more virtually for a powerful discussion on commitment.