Falcons Legend Jerious Norwood Named 2026 Salute to Service Award Nominee

 

FLOWERY BRANCH, GA — For former Atlanta Falcons running back Jerious Norwood, making an impact has always extended beyond the football field. Now, his continued dedication to honoring the men and women of the United States military is receiving national recognition.

The Atlanta Falcons announced Thursday, November 5, that Norwood has been selected as the organization’s nominee for the 2026 Salute to Service Award presented by USAA.

The prestigious honor recognizes individuals throughout the NFL family who demonstrate an exceptional commitment to honoring, empowering and connecting with active-duty service members, veterans and military families.

For Norwood, the nomination represents years of meaningful relationships, volunteer efforts and a genuine appreciation for those who serve our country.

Throughout his NFL career and his continued involvement as a Falcons Legend, Norwood has made military appreciation a personal commitment rather than limiting his efforts to a single initiative or annual event.

His dedication includes visits with wounded military personnel recovering at Walter Reed, where he spent time offering encouragement and expressing gratitude to service members who sacrificed their health and well-being while defending the nation.

Those experiences helped establish meaningful connections that continued long after his playing days ended.

Norwood has remained actively involved with soldiers, Marines, National Guard members and Gold Star families through military installation visits, reenlistment ceremonies, training experiences and community events.

For families who have lost loved ones in military service, his presence has offered opportunities for connection, encouragement and recognition.

And while professional athletes are often celebrated for what they accomplish between the sidelines, Norwood’s nomination highlights the influence they can have away from the game.

His outreach has included spending time sharing meals with troops, participating in fishing outings alongside wounded veterans and engaging in conversations with military families.

Rather than simply making appearances, Norwood has worked to develop relationships built on respect, appreciation and understanding.

For Gold Star families, whose loved ones made the ultimate sacrifice, those personal connections carry particular significance.

Norwood’s willingness to listen and spend meaningful time with military families reflects the purpose behind the NFL’s Salute to Service initiative.

The program brings together the league’s 32 teams to recognize military service, support veterans and strengthen relationships between professional football and the armed forces.

Since launching in 2011, the NFL’s Salute to Service initiative has raised more than $80 million for military nonprofit organizations supporting veterans, service members and their families.

Its charitable partners include the Bob Woodruff Foundation, Pat Tillman Foundation, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, United Service Organizations and Wounded Warrior Project.

The initiative extends beyond military appreciation ceremonies by supporting programs focused on education, mental health, career development and family assistance.

For the Falcons, Norwood’s nomination also reflects the franchise’s ongoing involvement with the military community through player appearances, community service opportunities and special events.

Fans will have an opportunity to show their support for Norwood as voting opens to help determine the award’s three finalists.

Voting is available through November 30, with fans permitted to cast one vote per nominee each day.

The three finalists will be announced in January 2027, and the eventual recipient will be recognized during NFL Honors in February, during the week of Super Bowl LXI.

The award also carries an important charitable component.

USAA will contribute $25,000 in the recipient’s name to official military aid societies representing the branches of the United States Armed Forces.

The NFL Foundation will provide an additional $25,000 to a military nonprofit selected by the award recipient, bringing the combined charitable contribution to $50,000.

The financial support reinforces the award’s mission of turning appreciation into meaningful assistance for military communities.

The Falcons will continue their military recognition efforts when they host the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, November 15, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium for Atlanta’s designated Salute to Service game.

The matchup will provide another opportunity for the organization and its fans to recognize active-duty military personnel, veterans and families through special game-day activities.

Across the NFL, teams are participating in Salute to Service events during Weeks 9 through 11, incorporating military appreciation activities, on-field branding and community outreach.

For Norwood, however, recognition is not confined to one Sunday, one award or one football season.

His commitment to honoring military families has continued throughout his relationship with the Falcons and the communities he has served.

From encouraging wounded veterans to supporting families who have experienced tremendous loss, Norwood has demonstrated that the platform provided by professional sports can create an impact well beyond wins and losses.

Now, as the Falcons’ 2026 nominee, his dedication is receiving the recognition it deserves.

And while fans remember Jerious Norwood for the excitement he brought to Atlanta football, his continued service to the military community is creating a legacy that reaches far beyond the gridiron.

Falcons fans can support Norwood by voting at NFL.com through November 30.

Because sometimes the greatest victories happen away from the football field.