The award, created after the 2014 season, is presented annually to an NFL player who best demonstrates the qualities of on-field sportsmanship, including fair play, respect for the game and opponents, and integrity in competition. The winner will be announced at the NFL Honors presentation before the Super Bowl, and he will receive a $25,000 donation from the NFL Foundation to a charity of his choice.
The other seven finalists are Jacksonville Jaguars defensive lineman Calais Campbell, Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Thomas Davis, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver T.Y. Hilton, Washington Redskins running back Adrian Peterson, New England Patriots wide receiver Matthew Slater, Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, and Los Angeles Rams safety Eric Weddle.
No 49ers player has ever won the award. New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees was last year's recipient.
Staley, a 13-year veteran, has spent his entire NFL career with the 49ers. He started at least 15 games during seven of his previous eight seasons and all 16 during six of those, including 2018.
Staley has played in just three games this season after missing six with a fractured fibula and then the last three with a fractured finger. He returned to practice this week, though, and head coach Kyle Shanahan is hopeful of getting his starting tackle back for Sunday's matchup against the New Orleans Saints.
H/t to Pro Football Talk for the news.
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
49ers punter Corliss Waitman named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week
San Francisco 49ers punter Corliss Waitman was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week after the team's 32-29 win over the Seattle Seahawks in Week 5. Waitman punted five times for 216 yards, averaging 43.2 yards per punt. All five punts landed inside the 20-yard line,... -
Baldy urges 49ers to 'load up' at the NFL trade deadline
The San Francisco 49ers enter Week 7's matchup against the Atlanta Falcons with a perfect 6-0 record. Don't let that start fool you, though. Injuries have exposed needs at multiple positions, like wide receiver and the defensive line. Those concerns have fueled trade... -
Kyle Shanahan didn't expect 49ers' defense to be this good this soon
The San Francisco 49ers entered the 2026 season with plenty of questions on defense. They had a new defensive coordinator in Raheem Morris, a new scheme to learn, and a defensive line that was expected to need time to find its footing. Then the injuries started piling up. The... -
Kyle Shanahan reveals the highest compliment he can give 49ers QB Brock Purdy
What's the highest compliment San Francisco 49ers Head Coach Kyle Shanahan can give to his quarterback, Brock Purdy? Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area sat down with Shanahan on Friday and discussed Purdy's importance to the offense, particularly with the 49ers dealing with...