The NFL announced the 32 nominees for the Salute to Service Award presented By USAA. The honor recognizes NFL players, coaches, staff, and alumni with demonstrable commitment to honoring and supporting military and veteran communities, as nominated by NFL clubs.
The NFL will announce the finalists in January, and the recipient will be recognized at NFL Honors during the week of Super Bowl LVI.
The nominee for the San Francisco 49ers is tight end George Kittle. The NFL provided the following rundown.
Aside from breaking franchise records, Kittle has proven to be an exceptional leader, as demonstrated by his recognition as the 49ers 2019 Len Eshmont Award recipient, voted on by his teammates, and given to the player who exemplifies the inspirational play of 49ers alum Len Eshmont. Along with his dedication to professional football, Kittle has been a long-standing supporter of the United States military.
As someone who has loved ones in the Armed Forces, including his Uncle Pat and Grandfather Carl, Kittle has been passionate about supporting our country's military by dedicating his time and resources to hundreds of active duty members, veterans, and their families since he entered the league in 2017.
"I love the United States of America, and I know that we wouldn't be able to do all the things that we do as just everyday American citizens without our military, and all the things they've done past and present," Kittle said.
While the team has a strong relationship with the military community and has coordinated countless military appreciation events, Kittle has gone out of his way to surprise and delight service members and their families on his own time. Kittle has built a strong relationship with the Tragedy Assistance Program For Survivors (TAPS) after first being introduced to them after the 2018 Pro Bowl. With the TAPS families, Kittle participated in a woodworking project, making American flags as a memento of the experience.
In episode nine of "Hidden Pearls Podcast'', an audio series by his family, the Kittles reunited with the TAPS family from that woodworking project to amplify the organization's work. Since then, he's connected with many other TAPS families - such as the LaMar family who he highlighted during My Cause My Cleats by having them painted on his cleats in 2020, and most recently in August 2021 when Kittle hosted a group of 20 young adult survivors to watch training camp practice for one of their first social experiences since the start of the pandemic.
Whether he is shaking every single service member's hand as they stand to order on the goal line at the Salute to Service game or helping make everlasting memories for military families through special surprises and visits, Kittle demonstrates his unwavering devotion for the U.S. Armed Forces during any opportunity possible.
As the presenting sponsor of the Salute to Service Award, USAA, a leading provider of insurance and other 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 will match USAA's contribution by donating an additional $25,000 to the awardee's military or veteran charity of choice.