On Thursday, USAA revealed the three finalists for the NFL’s Salute to Service Award, and there’s a notable player from San Francisco in the mix.
After the 49ers’ George Kittle took home the award last year, this time, Christian McCaffrey is vying for the honor. He competes against Jake Ferguson of the Dallas Cowboys and Aaron Jones from the Minnesota Vikings, who was also a finalist last year.
Maj. Gen. Bob Whittle (ret.), USAA’s senior vice president and military chief, praised this year’s finalists: “They’ve utilized their platforms as remarkable advocates for the military community, reminding us that military service continues beyond uniform.”
“The NFL and USAA commend Jake Ferguson, Aaron Jones, and Christian McCaffrey as deserving finalists, representing the essence of this award: leveraging football’s influence to connect, uplift, and express gratitude to service members and their families,” Whittle added.
McCaffrey established 23 and Troops in 2021 to address issues such as post-traumatic stress and the need for athlete-level care for veterans. So far, the foundation has raised $700,000 for military support and helped finance vacation leave for 515 military families.
Ferguson has collaborated with USAA to visit military bases and supported the National Medal of Honor Museum. An event in 2024 brought together 900 students in person, with thousands joining online.
Jones has deep military roots, with his father serving 29 years in the Army and his mother for 27. His older brother is in the Air Force, and he, along with his twin brother, founded the A&A All the Way Foundation in 2020 to assist youths from military families.
The winners will be revealed during the NFL Honors on February 5th in San Francisco, alongside the MVP, Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, Rookie of the Year, and Coach of the Year awards.
Both Whittle and Kittle will be judging this award.
