More than $75 million raised for the NFL’s Salute to Service charitable partners since inception
NEW YORK – Oct. 30, 2025 – The NFL announced today the on-field launch of Salute to Service, the league’s commitment to honor, empower and connect with the country’s military community. Throughout 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 9-11 of the regular season and will be complemented by special events and activations in communities across the country, including through efforts to celebrate this year’s landmark 250th anniversary of the Army, Navy and Marine Corps.
“For 250 years, the brave men and women of our country’s armed forces – and their families – have made tremendous sacrifices to protect the freedoms and security we hold dear,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. “Salute to Service reflects the NFL’s year-round commitment to honoring the military community, and we are proud to recognize and celebrate our nation’s service members, veterans, and their loved ones. Their sacrifice makes it possible for the entire NFL family to enjoy the game we love.”
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 $75 million for these and other 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. The longstanding partnership was recently extended to create additional exclusive opportunities that bring the military community and the NFL closer together on a year-round basis through visits to domestic and international military installations and by hosting thousands of military members and their families at events such as the NFL Draft, training camps, Salute to Service games, and the Super Bowl.
Salute to Service Charitable Partners
The NFL works alongside its Salute to Service charitable partners 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 to veteran support organizations across the country. To date, our partnership has made a measurable impact on the lives of more than 622,000 veterans, service members, their families, and their caregivers in more than 100 communities across the U.S. Throughout the year, the NFL and BWF team up to host marquee events, including the USA Wheelchair Football League All-Star Game at Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans in partnership with Move United.
- Pat Tillman Foundation: The Pat Tillman Foundation recognizes remarkable service members, veterans, and military spouses as the next generation of leaders. Through academic scholarships, lifelong leadership development, and a global community of peers and supporters, the Foundation empowers these individuals to make a meaningful impact as they transition into their next chapter of service beyond self.
- Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS): The NFL partners with Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) to fund programming that supports 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 Cleveland Browns take on the Minnesota Vikings in the first international game in London during the 2025-2026 regular season. During the trip, these families connected with families in the U.K. who are similarly mourning the loss of a service member to build bonds 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 26 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, and the top eight service members will participate in the tournament finals at the Washington Commanders Salute to Service game when they host the Detroit Lions. The winners of the tournament will receive tickets and travel accommodations to Super Bowl LX in the Bay Area.
- Wounded Warrior Project: Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) is the nation’s leading veteran service organization focusing on the total well-being of post-9/11 wounded, ill, and injured veterans. Since 2011, the NFL has proudly partnered with WWP to invest in life-changing programs like Project Odyssey – a 12-week mental health program that uses outdoor adventure to help warriors and their families build confidence, improve coping skills, and enhance mental resiliency. Last summer, Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Devin Lloyd and defensive lineman Morgan Fox joined veterans in Oregon for a Project Odyssey event, connecting through adventure and carrying those lessons of resilience back to the field.
Salute to Service Award Presented by USAA
This week, the NFL and USAA announced the 2025 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.
Fans have the opportunity to honor through action, helping determine the award’s three finalists. To see all the nominees and vote, fans can visit NFL.com/SaluteFanVote. One vote per day, per fan is permitted now through the end of November. 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 LX. For more information on how USAA honors and appreciates our military, please visit www.usaa.com/NFL.
As the presenting sponsor of the award, USAA, a leading provider of insurance, banking and 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 Foundation will match USAA’s contribution by donating an additional $25,000 to the recipient’s military non-profit charity of choice.
Club and Player Activations
All 32 NFL clubs and players participate in Salute to Service events and activations to commemorate our military community. This season, clubs are activating around Salute to Service in a variety of ways, including:
- The Baltimore Ravens and defensive back Kyle Hamilton teamed up with NFL partner Toyota to host an NFL FLAG clinic for local military youth and their families at the team’s practice facilities.
- The Green Bay Packers’ “Give Back Salute to Service Week” will feature daily events and activities to honor the military community, including seminars for local veterans experiencing mental health challenges and an event with Packers players to honor families of fallen military members.
- The Indianapolis Colts are inviting a group of World War II veterans to attend their team practice and upcoming international game in Berlin on Nov. 9.
- The Kansas City Chiefs will visit Fort Leavenworth in Kansas to put together care packages alongside the USO for service members deployed overseas.
Military 250
This year represents the 250th anniversary of the Army, Navy and Marine Corps. In honor of this monumental milestone for our country’s military community, the NFL has participated in and supported numerous activations to commemorate the moment. Throughout the year, the league has also worked with the nonprofit We the Veterans and Military Families on its ongoing campaign to inspire 250,000 acts of service across the country and unite Americans around the values our military community has demonstrated for the past 250 years.
From the National Mall to the Pro Football Hall of Fame to NFL stadiums across the country, the collective NFL family has proudly participated in and celebrated this significant event for our military heroes.
Salute to Service On-Field
Salute to Service will come to life visually on-field and in-stadium during Weeks 9-11. Visual elements during activation games include Salute to Service stencils, field wall banners, goal post wraps, and custom apparel for players and coaches. All proceeds from Salute to Service apparel are donated to the league’s Salute to Service charitable partners. Game-worn Salute to Service merchandise will also be auctioned on NFL Auction at NFL.com/Auction to support our partners.
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