By Lydia Jane Allison
Over $73 Million Raised for the NFL’s Salute to Service Charitable Partners Since 2011
NEW YORK – Nov. 7, 2024 – The NFL announced today the continued support of Salute to Service, the league’s commitment to honor, empower and connect with the country’s military community. Throughout the month of November, the collective NFL family, including all 32 clubs and players, will reinforce their support and gratitude to those who have and continue to serve. Salute to Service will come to life on-field during Weeks 10-12 of the regular season and will be complemented by special events and activations in communities across the country.
“Every day, the brave men, women, and families serving in our armed forces make countless sacrifices to uphold our great nation’s freedom and security. Because of their sacrifice, the entire NFL family can participate in and enjoy the game of football,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. “Salute to Service represents our year-round commitment to the military community, and we are proud to recognize and honor our country’s service members, veterans and their families.”
Salute to Service is anchored through league partnerships with five charitable organizations that support the military community: the Bob Woodruff Foundation, Pat Tillman Foundation, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), the United Service Organizations (USO) and Wounded Warrior Project. Since 2011, the NFL has raised more than $73 million for our Salute to Service charitable partners to help advance their ongoing missions to uplift our nation’s military community through targeted programs, resources and support.
USAA, an official NFL Salute to Service partner, has honored and appreciated active-duty military, veterans and their families alongside the NFL since Salute to Service was created in 2011. This partnership creates exclusive opportunities that bring the military community and the NFL closer together on a year-round basis through visits to military installations and by hosting thousands of military members and their families at events including the NFL Draft, training camps, Salute to Service games, and the Super Bowl.
Salute to Service Charitable Partners
Alongside our Salute to Service charitable partners, the NFL works to engage and support service members, veterans and their families in communities across the globe.
- Bob Woodruff Foundation – The NFL works with the Bob Woodruff Foundation (BWF) to ensure that our nation’s veterans, service members, their families and their caregivers have stable and successful futures. Through this partnership, the NFL and BWF provide vital grants and funds to veterans’ support organizations across the country to support our nation’s veterans. The NFL-BWF Salute to Service grant pipeline has collectively served more than 611,000 veterans through 110 grants. As part of the NFL-BWF Salute to Service grant portfolio, the NFL teams up with the BWF and Move United to help fund the USA Wheelchair Football League, a first of its kind football league for adults with disabilities, particularly veterans, to reach their highest potential through a competitive, fast-paced, team sport. Throughout the year, the NFL and BWF team up to host marquee USA Wheelchair Football League events honoring veterans who participate in the league at NFL tentpole events, including the 2024 NFL Draft and Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans.
- Pat Tillman Foundation – The NFL collaborates with the Pat Tillman Foundation to fund and support remarkable active-duty service members, veterans, and military spouses through scholarships that help them scale their impact as they develop into the next generation of leaders. The legacy of Pat Tillman continues to be carried forward by the nearly 1,000 Tillman Scholars, who are dedicated to service beyond self and embody the principles that Pat stood for: service, scholarship, humble leadership, and impact. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Foundation, which was recently celebrated at the annual Tillman Honors Gala where the NFL was recognized as a Champion Awardee for the league’s continued dedication to the organization’s mission. Learn more about Pat’s impact through interviews with those who knew him best, including his former teammate, NFL Legend Jake Plummer, and the owner of the Arizona Cardinals, Michael Bidwill.
- Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) – The NFL partners with Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) to directly fund core programming that supports all those grieving the loss of a military or veteran loved one, including by providing unique opportunities for surviving families to come together around the game of football. Recently, the NFL facilitated a trip for TAPS families to watch the New York Jets take on the Minnesota Vikings in the first international game in London during the 2024-2025 regular season. During the trip, these families were connected with families in the U.K. who are similarly mourning the loss of a service member to build bonds and connections with surviving families overseas.
- USO – For nearly 60 years, the NFL has partnered with the USO to express gratitude and thanks to the people serving in our nation’s military. This includes funding the development of USO centers at military bases across the globe. Central to this partnership is the annual NFL-USO Tour, which connects NFL players and Legends with U.S. service members and their families at military bases overseas. The NFL also continues to team up with the USO on the Salute to Service Showdown, an EA SPORTS™ Madden NFL 25 tournament bringing U.S. active-duty, Reserve and National Guard members around the world together through the fun of football and gaming. The tournament kicked off in September with qualifiers participating from regions around the world. The top eight service members will participate in the tournament finals at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Salute to Service game on November 10 when they host the San Francisco 49ers. The winners of the tournament will receive tickets and travel accommodations to Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans.
- Wounded Warrior Project – Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) provides free, life-changing support to post-9/11 veterans, families, and caregivers. Since 2011, the NFL has proudly partnered with WWP to invest in diverse, impactful programs like Project Odyssey that help warriors and their families heal, strengthen resilience, boost self-confidence, and build lasting connections that sustain their mental wellness and overall well-being.
Salute to Service On-Field and During Broadcast
During Weeks 10-12, Salute to Service will come to life on-field with stencils, banners, goal post wraps, game balls, helmet decals, and custom Wilson, New Era and Nike gear. Salute to Service apparel is available for purchase at NFL Shop and in stadium retail stores. The NFL does not profit from the sale of Salute to Service products, with proceeds donated to the NFL’s Salute to Service charitable partners. Fans can also bid on authentic, game-worn gear and other memorabilia to raise money for the NFL’s Salute to Service charitable partners. Text STSBID to 635635 and opt-in or visit NFL Auction to bid.
As part of this year’s broader “We See You” umbrella marketing campaign and building upon the concept of Everyday Strength, this season’s Salute to Service broadcast spot features Los Angeles Chargers’ defensive end Morgan Fox. With a father who is an Army Veteran and a Wounded Warrior Project member, Morgan serves as a role model in the military community by helping veterans manage their invisible wounds, such as PTSD, anxiety, and depression. The spot will air in broadcast during Weeks 10-12 and will also come to life through the NFL’s social and digital platforms. View the spot here.
Salute to Service Award Presented by USAA
Last week, the NFL and USAA announced the 2024 nominees for the annual NFL Salute to Service Award presented by USAA. The Salute to Service Award recognizes NFL players, coaches, staff and alumni who have demonstrated a commitment to honoring and supporting military and veteran communities.
Returning this year is an opportunity for fans to vote for their favorite nominee to help determine the award’s three finalists. To see all the nominees and vote, fans can visit NFL.com/SaluteFanVote from now until the end of November. One vote per day, per fan is permitted. The finalists will be announced in January, and the recipient will be recognized at NFL Honors, a primetime awards special to air nationally in February during the week of Super Bowl LIX. For more information on how USAA honors and appreciates our military, please visit www.usaa.com/NFL.
Salute to Service Career Summit Presented by NFL Player Care Foundation (PCF)
The NFL Player Care Foundation (PCF) will host the inaugural Salute to Service Career Summit to educate NFL Legends about career opportunities in the military and government. The NFL Player Care Foundation (PCF) is an independent organization dedicated to helping retired players improve their quality of life, including through workforce development and career programs. In addition to the military, Department of Defense (DoD), and more, NFL Salute to Service charitable partners, including the Bob Woodruff Foundation, Pat Tillman Foundation, USO and Wounded Warrior Project, will participate in the event to network with NFL Legends and discuss career pathways at their organizations.
Collaboration with NFL Partners to Support Our Nation’s Service Members and Veterans
The NFL is also proud to collaborate with our league partners to forge a stronger connection with the military community.
TCL is teaming up with the NFL and Salute to Service charitable partner USO to donate TCL big screen TVs up to 98” to USO Centers across the globe. As the Official TV of the NFL, TCL will also take part in this year’s Salute to Service Showdown, gifting finalists of the video game tournament with its award-winning televisions that feature advanced gaming capabilities. TCL will round out their contribution by donating $20,000 to the USO to support the organization’s mission of strengthening the well-being of the people serving in our nation’s military and their families.
Crown Royal launched its new Hall of Heroes program to recognize veterans in communities across the country. Through this program, fans can nominate a veteran in their hometown for the opportunity to be inducted into the first-ever Hall of Heroes at the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay, WI alongside NFL Legend Demarcus Ware. Fans can submit their nomination here.
Gillette, the official grooming partner of the NFL, is paying heartfelt homage to service members, veterans and their families with a new limited-edition GilletteLabs razor featuring the NFL Salute to Service Arctic Camo design, available now at Walmart. Through NFL Salute to Service, Gillette is proud to continue its support of Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) with a donation of $250,000, directed to the TAPS Military Mentor program. Through the program, Military Mentors support the children left behind with many things — including teaching them to shave in the absence of a parent at home.
Bread Financial, the service provider for the NFL Extra Points Visa© Credit Card, is donating $100,000 to the Bob Woodruff Foundation (BWF) in support of the USA Wheelchair Football League. The donation, made on behalf of the NFL Extra Points Reward Program and driven by card member sales in early October, represents Bread Financial’s fourth year supporting Salute to Service and our shared commitment to help veterans live more stable and successful lives.
Additionally, NBC Sports Next, the sports technology division of the NFL’s broadcast partner NBC, in November will begin its fourth year of supporting the NFL’s Salute to Service partners through its “Round-Up” campaign. NBC Sports Next is the industry’s leading provider of golf course operations software and services to more than 11,000 courses worldwide, and operates the world’s largest online tee time marketplace through its GolfNow and TeeOff websites. Users booking tee times on GolfNow or TeeOff throughout November will be provided the opportunity to round up the total cost of the reservation to an even-dollar figure, with the additional contribution going to the NFL’s Salute to Service partners.
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About the Bob Woodruff Foundation:
The Bob Woodruff Foundation was founded in 2006 after reporter Bob Woodruff was wounded by a roadside bomb while covering the war in Iraq. Since then, the Bob Woodruff Foundation has raised awareness about the tough challenges veterans and military families are facing, and invested in solutions to help support them in the next chapter of their lives. To date, the Bob Woodruff Foundation has invested over $165 million to ensure that our nation’s veterans, service members, and their families — those who stood for us — have stable and successful futures. Visit the Bob Woodruff Foundation for more information.
About the Pat Tillman Foundation:
The Pat Tillman Foundation identifies remarkable active-duty service members, veterans, and military spouses as the next generation of leaders. It helps them scale their impact as they enter their next chapter of service beyond self through academic scholarships, lifelong leadership development, and a global community of peers and supporters. This year is a significant milestone for the Pat Tillman Foundation as it marks 20 years of honoring Pat’s legacy by investing in the potential of those who have served. For more information on the Pat Tillman Foundation and the impact of the Tillman Scholars, visit pattillmanfoundation.org.
About Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS):
TAPS is the national nonprofit organization providing compassionate care and comprehensive resources for all those grieving a death in the military or veteran community. TAPS — which, in the last 30 years, has become synonymous with 24/7, lifelong support for all grieving a military or veteran death — provides resources during each step of a survivor’s walk through grief with a combination of peer-based support, the 24/7 National Military Survivor Helpline, in-person events, community-based care, casework assistance, and grief and trauma resources. The TAPS mission has touched more than 100,000 survivors, casualty assistance officers, chaplains, and bereavement supporters since its founding.
About the USO:
The USO is the leading nonprofit dedicated to the well-being of all people serving in the U.S. military and their families. Since 1941, the USO has been by the side of service members throughout their military service. Impactful support is provided through our 250+ locations around the world, a robust care package delivery program, global entertainment, military spouse and youth programming, and much more, all made possible by dedicated donors, corporate partners, volunteers and staff. To learn more and support our critical mission around the globe, please visit USO.org or follow us on Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram and LinkedIn.
About Wounded Warrior Project:
Since 2003, Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) has been meeting the growing needs of warriors, their families, and caregivers — helping them achieve their highest ambition. Learn more about Wounded Warrior Project.
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