The National Football League (NFL) has unveiled its 32 nominees for the Salute to Service Award, one from each team, recognizing individuals who dedicate themselves to supporting military and veteran communities. This year’s nominations include Christian McCaffrey of the San Francisco 49ers and Jim Harbaugh of the Los Angeles Chargers. McCaffrey’s 23andTroops foundation focuses on mental health support for veterans, while Harbaugh has actively engaged with military families through various initiatives.
McCaffrey’s commitment to the military community stems from a deep respect for service and a belief in supporting mental and physical wellness. His foundation’s flagship initiative, 23andTroops, focuses on healing from post-traumatic stress using athlete-level care. The foundation has invested nearly $700,000 in military support and paid off holiday layaway balances for 515 military families. Additionally, McCaffrey actively participates in the Salute to Service program, connecting with active-duty members, veterans, and Gold Star families, showcasing his initiative through the league’s My Cause My Cleats program. He has represented the Wounded Warrior Project in 2019 and 2020 and the Logan Project in the last two seasons.
Harbaugh, who assumed his role as head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers in 2024, has integrated military outreach into his team’s operations. Since his arrival, he has hosted T.A.P.S. families at practices, welcomed Gold Star families to games, and brought team activities directly to military bases and Navy carriers. He also invited members of the U.S. Coast Guard to participate in the ‘Wise Words,’ where distinguished guests share inspirational messages. The team later visited the USS Abraham Lincoln, a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, where active-duty sailors observed the Chargers’ walk-through, participated in drills, met with players and coaches, and toured the carrier.
Other notable nominees include 2021 Walter Payton Man of the Year Andrew Whitworth, 2024 finalist Aaron Jones, Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson, and Philadelphia Eagles’ game day supervisor Lindsay Hartig, a West Point graduate who served in Iraq. Hartig is the only female nominee this year and also represents one of four U.S. veterans nominated for the award, alongside Luis Barajas, Fred Waggett, and Kelvin Smith. Fans can vote for the award’s three finalists, who will be announced in January, with the final winner revealed at NFL Honors during Super Bowl week. George Kittle, last year’s winner, will join the selection panel, continuing the tradition of honoring service members and their families through the NFL’s initiatives.