Three days before Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, California, some of the biggest names in professional football will attend a ceremony on February 5 that honors individual excellence. The NFL’s MVP will be announced, as will the Coach of the Year and Rookie of the Year, among other awards.
One honor that night will stand above all others, though, when it comes to impacting the military community. Since 2011, the NFL Salute to Service Award has been presented to an honoree who has made a significant impact on service members and veterans. Each team nominates an organization member, and the list of 32 then is whittled down to three finalists.
Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson, Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones Sr., and San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey are this year’s finalists.
‘Treated Just Like Us Athletes’
Of the finalists, McCaffrey is by far the most accomplished on the field. He is in the running for two other awards: the league’s MVP and its Offensive Player of the Year.
As dazzling as McCaffrey is for the 49ers, though, his commitment to helping the military is equally impressive. Since starting the Christian McCaffrey Foundation in 2020, the nonprofit has provided veterans (with an emphasis on Special Operations) with holistic health resources. The next year, the foundation started 23 and Troops to target resources to those suffering from post-traumatic stress.
“I want veterans to be treated just like us athletes,” McCaffrey said in a news release.
It is working. The Christian McCaffrey Foundation has invested nearly $700,000 toward military initiatives.
Coming from a Military Family
Jones’ appreciation for the military began long before the Green Bay Packers drafted him in 2017.
Both of his parents served in the Army for nearly three decades and retired as sergeants major, and Jones’ brother, Xavier, is in the Air Force. Jones has a twin brother, Alvin, and during their childhood, they typically accompanied their parents when they volunteered. The Jones boys gave back in multiple ways, including serving Thanksgiving meals and assisting in fundraisers.
So it was no surprise when the twins founded the A&A All the Way Foundation, which focuses on improving children’s lives, especially those in the military. Aaron Jones Sr. hosts annual galas to support military families, and before the regular season began, he held a back-to-school event for military kids. He also treated military families to tickets at every Vikings home game in 2025.
Jones was an NFL Salute to Service finalist in 2024, too.
“If I was to win the Salute to Service Award, honestly, I don’t have the words for it,” Jones said in October upon his initial nomination. “Heartwarming. Joy. I don’t really have the words to articulate it, but I would feel it embodies who I am.”
Appreciating the Military
In his fourth NFL season, Ferguson continued his support of the military community, making it a key part of his off-the-field endeavors.
Ferguson’s support of the National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington, Texas, was mentioned in his nomination, and that allowed him to meet service members, veterans, and their families and advocate for them. Despite lacking much free time during the season, he regularly visited military bases in the Dallas area.
The past two seasons, Ferguson participated in a national Character Playbook LIVE discussion that reached thousands of students (either in person or virtually) and focused on commitment. Finally, he and his fiancee surprised Medal of Honor recipient Salvatore Giunta with two tickets to the Super Bowl.
“Having the privilege to salute them and amplify the core values they represent to others is something that inspires me,” Ferguson said in a recent news release. “I am deeply grateful for their service and the sacrifices they have made that benefit all of us.”
The Impact
The award is part of the league’s broader Salute to Service campaign, which connects with U.S. service members, veterans, and their families. Since its inception in 2011, the initiative has partnered with five military organizations to raise more than $75 million. Those nonprofits are the Bob Woodruff Foundation, United Service Organizations, Pat Tillman Foundation, Transition Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), and the Wounded Warrior Project.
The late Tennessee Titans owner Bud Adams was the first NFL Salute to Service honoree. Since then, current head coaches John Harbaugh and Dan Quinn, Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive end Jared Allen, and others have been recognized.
George Kittle, the 49ers’ starting tight end, was the 2024 recipient. McCaffrey, Jones, or Ferguson will be a worthy successor, according to retired Maj. Gen. Bob Whittle. Whittle is head of military affairs for USAA, the award’s presenting sponsor, and was part of the panel that selected the finalists.
“[They reminded] us that service doesn’t stop when the uniform comes off,” Whittle said in a news release.
