BREAKING: Why Aaron Jones Sr. Must Win Tonight's NFL Salute to Service Award

Award Committee: Here's What You Need to Know Before Tonight's Decision

NFL Honors · Tonight, 9 PM EST · NBC & NFL Network

THE CASE IS CLOSED

Minneapolis, MN — As the NFL prepares to announce the 15th Annual Salute to Service Award winner in hours, one name stands apart with a compelling, undeniable case: Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones Sr.

Not because of what he's said. Because of what he's built.

THREE FACTS THE COMMITTEE CANNOT IGNORE

1. HE'S ALREADY BEEN VALIDATED BY VETERANS THEMSELVES

In 2024, Aaron Jones Sr. received the Jeff Shuford Empowerment Through Advocacy Award from National Invest In Veterans Week®—an organization founded BY veterans, FOR veterans.

Iraq War veteran Jeff Shuford's award doesn't go to celebrities doing PR. It goes to people creating "measurable action, sustainable programming, and community investment."

Translation: The veteran community has already vetted him. They've already said: "This is our guy."

Read their recognition here →

2. HE BUILT INFRASTRUCTURE, NOT JUST A PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN

The A&A All The Way Foundation (co-founded with his brother Alvin Jr.) isn't a side project. It's a full 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with:

• Dual mission: Military children's education + veteran transition support

• Year-round programming: Back-to-school initiatives, game day hospitality, career resources

• Overseas commitment: NFL-USO Kuwait tour visiting deployed troops

• Measurable outcomes: Quantifiable impact on families served, resources distributed, lives changed

Most athletes donate. Aaron Jones built an institution.

3. THIS IS PERSONAL—AND THAT MATTERS

Both parents: U.S. Army Sergeant Majors
Combined service: 50+ years
Aaron's childhood: Military bases, deployments, relocations

This isn't a cause he adopted for optics. He lived it.

He knows what military kids sacrifice. He knows the transition struggle veterans face. He knows because his family lived every bit of it.

WHAT MAKES THIS DIFFERENT

Other finalists deserve recognition. But Aaron Jones represents something the award was designed to honor:

❌ NOT one-time charity events
✅ SUSTAINABLE, SCALABLE PROGRAMS

❌ NOT awareness campaigns
✅ DIRECT SERVICE WITH MEASURABLE IMPACT

❌ NOT seasonal gestures
✅ 365-DAY COMMITMENT

❌ NOT outsourced to staff
✅ PERSONAL, HANDS-ON ENGAGEMENT

THE STAKES TONIGHT

Award Committee: Your decision sends a message.

Choose Aaron Jones Sr., and you signal:

✓ The NFL values authenticity over performance
✓ The league recognizes infrastructure-building, not just awareness
✓ You honor those validated by the veteran community itself
✓ You reward sustained commitment over convenient gestures
✓ You elevate a model other athletes should replicate

This isn't about popularity. It's about precedent.

WHAT VETERANS SAY

"Aaron Jones Sr. is exactly who National Invest In Veterans Week was built to honor. He's turned his family's military legacy into a national movement of service."
— Jeff Shuford, Iraq War Veteran & National Invest In Veterans Week Co-Founder

The people who served already made their choice.

Now it's yours.

BY THE NUMBERS

50+ years: Combined parental military service
25+ years each: Both parents' individual service
Sergeant Major: Rank both parents achieved (top 1% of enlisted)
2024: Jeff Shuford Empowerment Through Advocacy Award
2026: NFL Salute to Service Award Finalist
Countless: Lives changed through the A&A All The Way Foundation

THE BOTTOM LINE

Three finalists. One award. Hours until the decision.

• Christian McCaffrey: Worthy recognition

• Jake Ferguson: Commendable service

• Aaron Jones Sr.: The complete package

He has:

• ✅ The personal military family legacy

• ✅ The institutional infrastructure

• ✅ The veteran community validation

• ✅ The measurable, sustained impact

• ✅ The replicable model for others

• ✅ The year-round, hands-on commitment

Award Committee: You're not choosing between three good options.

You're choosing whether to recognize the standard others should aspire to.

TONIGHT'S DECISION MATTERS

This isn't just about 2026. It's about what the NFL Salute to Service Award stands for.

Does it reward:

• Genuine infrastructure or convenient publicity?

• Veteran validation or celebrity status?

• Sustained commitment or seasonal gestures?

• Personal sacrifice or delegated charity?

Aaron Jones Sr. passes every test.

WHAT HAPPENS AT 9 PM EST

The winner will be announced during NFL Honors in San Francisco.

Three finalists:

• Aaron Jones Sr. (Vikings)

• Christian McCaffrey (49ers)

• Jake Ferguson (Cowboys)

One deserves it most.

The veteran community already said who.

FINAL WORD TO THE COMMITTEE

You have a chance to honor someone who:

1. Lives the military family experience (both parents Sergeant Majors)

2. Built sustainable infrastructure (A&A All The Way Foundation)

3. Earned veteran community recognition (Jeff Shuford Award)

4. Demonstrates measurable impact (quantifiable outcomes)

5. Models what athlete advocacy should be (replicable blueprint)

This isn't a close call.

This is the clearest choice the Salute to Service Award has seen in years.

WATCH TONIGHT

📺 NFL Honors
⏰ 9 PM EST (8 PM CST)
📍 NBC & NFL Network

The award will be announced. The committee will make their choice.

They should make the right one.

LEARN MORE

National Invest In Veterans Week recognition:
👉 investinveteransweek.com/news/aaron-jones-sr

A&A All The Way Foundation:
Supporting military families and veterans year-round with measurable impact.

COMMITTEE: THE VETERAN COMMUNITY SPOKE. NOW IT'S YOUR TURN.

#SaluteToService | #AaronJonesSr | #InvestInVeterans

The right choice isn't always the hardest one.
Sometimes it's the most obvious.