BREAKING: NFL, USAA announce nominees for 2024 Salute to Service Award with only one Bills nominee
The NFL and USAA, the league’s official Salute to Service partner, have announced the 2024 nominees for the annual Salute to Service Award presented by USAA. This award honors NFL players, coaches, staff, and alumni who go above and beyond to support and recognize military and veteran communities.
“USAA and the NFL established the Salute to Service Award to highlight the impactful military appreciation efforts within the league and to encourage fans to join in,” said Major General (Ret.) John Richardson, USAA’s senior vice president and head of military affairs. “We aim to raise awareness of the dedication and sacrifice of the military community, and each nominee serves as a reminder of how we can all show our gratitude.”
Fans can vote for their favorite nominee, selected by each NFL team, to help choose the three finalists. Voting is open on NFL.com/SaluteFanVote until November 30, with one vote allowed per day. The three finalists will be revealed in January, and the winner will be celebrated during NFL Honors in February, the week of Super Bowl LIX.
Last year’s winner was New England Patriots long-snapper Lieutenant Joe Cardona, a U.S. Naval Reserve officer known for his commitment to honoring active-duty service members and veterans. Cardona will be part of the award panel for 2024, joined by panelists Chad Hennings, Jim Mora Sr., Lenny Bandy, and Major General (Ret.) John Richardson.
As the presenting sponsor, USAA will contribute $25,000 in the award recipient’s name to military aid societies, with the NFL matching this by donating $25,000 to the winner’s chosen military or veteran charity.
The Salute to Service Award exemplifies the NFL and USAA’s year-round dedication to the military community. Through the Salute to Service initiative, the NFL and its 32 teams honor, empower, and connect with service members, veterans, and their families, with special recognitions at games during Weeks 10-12. For more details, visit NFL.com/Salute.
Below is the list of nominees for the 2024 Salute to Service Award presented by USAA:
| Team | Nominee |
|---|---|
| Arizona Cardinals | DeeJay Dallas, Running Back |
| Atlanta Falcons | Chris Millman, Team Staff |
| Baltimore Ravens | Steve Clagett Jr., Team Staff |
| Buffalo Bills | Matthew Smiley, Special Teams Coach |
| Carolina Panthers | Austin Corbett, Center |
| Chicago Bears | Travis Homer, Running Back |
| Cincinnati Bengals | Bryan Wilburn, Team Staff |
| Cleveland Browns | Shaun Huls, Team Staff |
| Dallas Cowboys | Zack Martin, Guard |
| Denver Broncos | Keith Bishop, Broncos Legend and Staff |
| Detroit Lions | Carl Jones II, Team Staff |
| Green Bay Packers | Lukas Van Ness, Defensive End |
| Houston Texans | Marc Lewis, Team Staff |
| Indianapolis Colts | Trey Mock, Team Staff |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | Travon Walker, Defensive End |
| Kansas City Chiefs | Mitch Holthus, Team Staff |
| Las Vegas Raiders | Robert Spillane, Linebacker |
| Los Angeles Chargers | Morgan Fox, Defensive End |
| Los Angeles Rams | Matthew Stafford, Quarterback |
| Miami Dolphins | Blake Ferguson, Long Snapper |
| Minnesota Vikings | Aaron Jones, Sr., Running Back |
| New England Patriots | David Andrews, Center |
| New Orleans Saints | Nate Degen, Team Staff and U.S. Army Captain |
| New York Giants | Wellington Mara, Late Owner |
| New York Jets | Tony Richardson, NFL Legend |
| Philadelphia Eagles | Lane Johnson, Right Tackle |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | Rocky Bleier, NFL Legend |
| San Francisco 49ers | George Kittle, Tight End |
| Seattle Seahawks | Mike Macdonald, Head Coach |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Brian Ford, Team Staff |
| Tennessee Titans | Alyssa Gallegos, Team Staff and U.S. Air Force Sgt. |
| Washington Commanders | Jeremy Reaves, Safety |