The Atlanta Falcons once again demonstrated their commitment to honoring the nation’s military, as safety Jessie Bates III, defensive lineman Zach Harrison, rookie outside linebacker Jalon Walker and Falcons legend John Abraham recently spent a week visiting U.S. service members stationed throughout Japan as part of the NFL-USO Tour.
The annual tour is a key component of the NFL’s Salute to Service initiative, which brings players, coaches and alumni overseas to connect with military members and their families serving far from home.
During the weeklong trip, the Falcons delegation visited three military installations: Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, U.S. Fleet Activities Sasebo and Camp Zama. Throughout each stop, the group met with service members in their workplaces, hosted youth football clinics, participated in football skills challenges and attended community events designed to strengthen the bond between military families and the NFL.
For Harrison, the experience was about much more than football.
“I had a blast on the USO tour in Japan. The best part was meeting the service members,” Harrison said. “Getting to hang out with them and seeing what they do, it honestly felt like we were just chopping it up and catching up like old friends, especially when you realize most of them are around the same age. I have the utmost respect for them.”
The Falcons have built a strong tradition of supporting military communities through the USO. Since 2016, the organization has participated in four NFL-USO Tours, visiting thousands of service members stationed across the globe. Previous tours have included military bases in Bulgaria, Romania, Germany, Iraq, Kuwait, Guam and Hawaii.
The NFL’s partnership with the USO has now reached a remarkable milestone, celebrating 60 years of service. The relationship began in 1966 when the league became the first professional sports organization to send players overseas to visit American troops stationed in Vietnam and surrounding regions.
Since then, more than 250 NFL players, coaches and executives have participated in tours spanning nearly 30 countries, reaching hundreds of thousands of U.S. service members.
Scott P. Maskery, Regional Vice President of USO Indo-Pacific, emphasized how meaningful these visits are for military families stationed overseas.
“Serving overseas often means being far from family, familiar traditions and the communities that support you at home,” Maskery said. “As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, visits like this serve as a powerful reminder that service members and their families remain connected to the nation they serve. Whether it’s spending time with NFL players, watching their children participate in a football clinic or simply coming together as a community, these moments create meaningful connections and bring a piece of home to military families stationed overseas.”
Anna Isaacson, the NFL’s Senior Vice President of Social Responsibility, echoed that sentiment, noting the impact the Falcons organization had throughout the trip.
“At its core, Salute to Service is about fostering stronger connections between the NFL family and our country’s military community,” Isaacson said. “The annual NFL-USO Tour is the embodiment of that mission, bringing familiarity and a piece of comfort to the brave men and women stationed overseas. We’re especially grateful to the Atlanta Falcons players, alumni and staff whose commitment to this journey created meaningful connections that will last long after the tour concludes.”
Beyond the annual tours, the NFL and the USO continue to work together year-round through the Salute to Service initiative, supporting military communities by funding renovations and expansions of USO centers around the world, including new efforts to establish USO centers aboard U.S. Navy ships.
For the Falcons, the trip served as another reminder that while football may bring people together on Sundays, service, gratitude and community extend far beyond the field.
