The 2024 NFL Salute to Service Award recipient will be recognized at NFL Honors, presented by Invisalign, February 6th in New Orleans.
Los Angeles Chargers defensive lineman Morgan Fox has been announced as one of three finalists for the 14th annual Salute to Service Award, presented by USAA. Fox, along with Minnesota running back Aaron Jones and San Francisco tight end George Kittle, will be vying for the prestigious honor annually awarded in recognition of one's year-round commitment to working with and honoring the active-duty military and veteran community.
Through the Salute to Service initiative, the NFL and its teams come together to honor, empower and connect with service members, veterans and their families. The 32 award nominees from each team were announced in November and consisted of active and retired players, coaches and team executives and personnel who best demonstrated support for the military community.
As the Chargers 3x Salute to Service nominee, Fox has dedicated his philanthropic efforts to serving veteran and active-duty military communities. Growing up in the military – his father, Joe Fox, served in the Army and was deployed for much of his childhood – Fox experienced the sacrifice of service members and their families first-hand. Since making the team's roster in 2022, Fox has brought his passion for serving military members and their families to the Los Angeles community by hosting warriors from the Wounded Warrior Project at the Chargers practice facility, supported our nation's fallen heroes through the nonprofit Tragedy Assistant Program for Survivors, and talked about the parallels between elite athletes and veterans with the Pat Tillman Foundation.
In November, during the NFL's designated Salute to Service month, Fox was compelled to continue his efforts and hosted a panel on Veteran Day's at The Bolt, the Chargers new state-of-the-art facility, where over 100 warriors from Wounded Warrior Project came to both speak and listen to those who have overcome the challenges of adversity. He also attended the grand re- opening of the U.S. Vets Long Beach dining hall renovation and served meals to over 300 veterans.
"While it's obviously an honor to be named a finalist for the 2024 Salute to Service Award, at the end of the day I just want to give back to the community and people that raised me," said Chargers defensive lineman Morgan Fox, whose father Joe is a United States Army veteran. "To be able to bring continued awareness, support and resources to the men and women who put their lives on the line for our country and our freedom is a privilege. I am beyond grateful to USAA and the NFL community for their continued dedication and providing me with a platform to serve those who serve us."
While Salute to Service month is an important time for conversation and recognition, Fox doesn't limit himself to one month. Throughout the year, Fox participated in the Chargers Community Corner program to provide 100 club level game tickets to military and Veteran focused nonprofits. This past offseason, when the Chargers traveled to U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton for their first day of minicamp, Fox addressed, thanked and recognized the over 5,000 military members and their families in attendance prior to the walk through.
On the field, and throughout his 8 years in the League, Fox has raised awareness and funds through the NFL's My Cause My Cleats initiative for nonprofit organizations including Wounded Warrior Project, the Headstrong Project, Merging Vets and Players, One Tribe Foundation and War Heroes on Water. These organizations support and assist veterans in overcoming mental and emotional struggles that they face after their service has ended. Fox's ongoing support of our nation's military and veterans has never wavered and will continue far beyond his playing career.
"Our three finalists for the 2024 Salute to Service Award are all deserving of recognition for their long-standing and unwavering commitment to honoring the military community," said Major General (Ret.) John Richardson, USAA Senior Vice President and head of Military Affairs. "We commend Aaron Jones, George Kittle and Morgan Fox for continually using their platforms as NFL players to advance and enrich the lives of our military service members and their families, putting service to others above themselves."
USAA will contribute $25,000 in the award recipient's honor to the official aid societies representing each of the military branches. The NFL Foundation will match that donation, which will go directly to the recipient's military charity of choice. The award recipient will also receive a specially designed military challenge coin which is presented to members of the military community to demonstrate membership, recognize excellence or boost morale.
Fans were once again able to vote for their favorite nominees, and the finalists were ultimately decided based on a consensus fan vote, an NFL internal committee and USAA. Nominees were also evaluated on the positive impact of their efforts to support the military community, the type of service conducted, the thoroughness of their support and their level of commitment.
A panel of judges, consisting of representatives from the U.S. military community, the NFL and USAA, will determine the Salute to Service Award recipient, and includes Chad Hennings, Air Force Academy graduate and three-time Super Bowl champion; Jim Mora, Sr., Marine Corps veteran and former NFL head coach; Lenny Bandy, U.S. Marine Corps veteran and NFL Vice President of Security; Major General (Ret.) John Richardson, USAA Senior Vice President and head of Military Affairs, and Joe Cardona, New England Patriots long snapper, U.S. Naval Reservist and 2023 Salute to Service Award recipient.
Since 2011, USAA has used its sponsorship to honor and appreciate service members, veterans and their families by creating unique opportunities that bring the military community and the NFL closer together.
To learn more about the Salute to Service Award presented by USAA, please visit NFL.com/Salute.
