Latest news with #SalutetoService
Economic Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Economic Times
NFL's social justice campaign enters sixth year with refreshed messaging
The defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles will open the season on September 4 against the Dallas Cowboys with 'Choose Love' in their end zone. (Image Credit: X) For the sixth straight season, the NFL will feature on-field social justice messages at all games. Each of the league's 32 teams will display one of four approved slogans - 'End Racism', 'Stop Hate', 'Choose Love' or 'Inspire Change' - in one end zone during home games. The opposite end zone will read 'It Takes All of Us' at every game. The only change from 2024 is that 'Inspire Change' replaces 'Vote.' International games will continue to feature 'End Racism' and 'It Takes All of Us' in the back of both end zones. These messages are part of the league's broader cause campaigns, including Salute to Service and Crucial Catch, which will appear during select weeks. Talking to The The Associated Press, Anna Isaacson, the NFL's senior vice president of social responsibility, emphasised the league's commitment to amplifying player voices and fostering unity, noting that football has long brought people from diverse backgrounds together to enjoy America's most popular sport. The defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles will open the season on September 4 against the Dallas Cowboys with 'Choose Love' in their end zone. They will rotate all four messages during the season. 'Choose Love,' introduced in 2022, gained prominence after the Buffalo supermarket shooting that killed 10 people and has since been widely embraced as a message of healing and will again be allowed to display one of five messages - including 'It Takes All of Us' - on helmet decals. Since launching the Inspire Change initiative in 2017, the NFL has contributed over $460 million to grant partners and grassroots organisations. The league views these combined on-field and off-field efforts as a serious responsibility to promote unity and drive positive community impact.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
NFL's social justice campaign enters sixth year with refreshed messaging
For the sixth straight season, the NFL will feature on-field social justice messages at all games. Each of the league's 32 teams will display one of four approved slogans - 'End Racism', 'Stop Hate', 'Choose Love' or 'Inspire Change' - in one end zone during home games. The opposite end zone will read ' It Takes All of Us ' at every game. The only change from 2024 is that 'Inspire Change' replaces 'Vote.' International games will continue to feature 'End Racism' and 'It Takes All of Us' in the back of both end zones. These messages are part of the league's broader cause campaigns, including Salute to Service and Crucial Catch, which will appear during select weeks. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Sleep Apnea Ruined My Life – Then I Found This Simple Trick Health Insight Undo Talking to The The Associated Press, Anna Isaacson , the NFL's senior vice president of social responsibility, emphasised the league's commitment to amplifying player voices and fostering unity, noting that football has long brought people from diverse backgrounds together to enjoy America's most popular sport. The defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles will open the season on September 4 against the Dallas Cowboys with 'Choose Love' in their end zone. They will rotate all four messages during the season. Live Events 'Choose Love,' introduced in 2022, gained prominence after the Buffalo supermarket shooting that killed 10 people and has since been widely embraced as a message of healing and hope. Players will again be allowed to display one of five messages - including 'It Takes All of Us' - on helmet decals. Since launching the Inspire Change initiative in 2017, the NFL has contributed over $460 million to grant partners and grassroots organisations. The league views these combined on-field and off-field efforts as a serious responsibility to promote unity and drive positive community impact.
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
The Baltimore Ravens hosted 100 active duty military members for an NFL-style boot camp
On Tuesday, August 12, USAA and the Ravens hosted 100 active duty military members from Fort Meade and Fort Detrick for the first-ever USAA Salute to Service Boot Camp at Ravens training camp. Baltimore Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti makes it a point to keep his gold standard franchise involved with the local community, and recent practice included more than just Ray Lewis and Michael Phelps. On Tuesday, USAA and the Ravens hosted 100 active duty military members from Fort Meade and Fort Detrick for the first-ever USAA Salute to Service Boot Camp at Ravens training camp. In what can only be described as an NFL fan's dream, the military members were split into teams to train like Ravens for a day at the spirited event. A once-in-a-lifetime experience, the service members competed in a mini-scouting combine, with events including the 40-yard dash, broad jump, three-cone shuttle, receiving gauntlet, and the QB arm challenge. Each competitor was scored during each drill, and their cumulative scores were added to their overall team score. A live leaderboard was used to capture participants' scores, and each member from the winning team received tickets to the Ravens' Salute to Service game this season. The USAA Salute to Service Boot Camp was the first event of many authentic military appreciation initiatives that USAA and the Ravens have created to foster an understanding and appreciation for the local military community, bringing them closer to a game they love.
USA Today
30-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Devin Hester talks Bears training camp, Hall of Fame, USAA, and more
When the sun is shining at Halas Hall in July and August, you can bet the Chicago Bears are out on the practice fields for training camp as they gear up for the upcoming season. Monday was no exception, with the Bears putting pads on for the first time and competing against one another during individual and team reps. Just a few hundred feet away, however, another competition was taking place at the Walter Payton Center between 50 military members of the USAA. And they were led by one of the greatest Bears players to ever play the game. Bears return specialist and Hall of Famer Devin Hester was up at Halas Hall as part of the USAA's Salute to Service NFL Boot Camp. Military members competed in a variation of the NFL Combine to test their skills and give them a taste of what preparing for the NFL would be like. Participants did a number of drills, including the 40-yard dash, the three-cone shuttle, the broad jump, and more. All competitors were hosted by the USAA and are currently stationed at Naval Station Great Lakes. We got an opportunity to chat with Hester about his involvement with USAA, reflecting back on his induction into the Hall of Fame and who should be next for Chicago. Hester's involvement with USAA While this is the third year USAA has put on the Salute to Service NFL Boot Camp, this was Hester's first time being involved, but he was excited to join in as the coach and come back to Halas Hall. "It was a great opportunity to come back," Hester told Bears Wire. "I have family members that have been in the military and the armed forces. These people are football fans too. So when I had the opportunity to come out and be a part of this event that's going on, I couldn't turn it down." USAA military affairs rep Shawn "Ike" Issacson was thrilled to bring Hester into the fold for how he's always given back to the community. "He just made sense because of the way he's given back for so long," Issacson told Bears Wire. "He's been one of those guys who reaches out and does what he can. It's been an awesome partnership so far." Of course Hester would have impressed on the 40-yard dash or the three-cone shuttle, but there was a drill he claims he dominated. "The little catching drill with the flags dropping," he said. "Today was my first day doing it, and they said the record was at six. I got nine." The combine had a leaderboard, and the winner of each drill received tickets to the Bears' Salute to Service game taking place this November. Hester teased he would also find a special gift for the winner of the 40-yard dash and followed through with a signed Bears helmet. Returning to Halas Hall for training camp It's been over a decade since Hester participated in a Bears training camp, and a lot has changed. Gone are the days of Olivet Nazarene University's campus and football facilities for players to get away to. Instead, players get to work at Halas Hall every day and can go home every single night. While fans may miss the big practice setting down in Bourbonnais, having camp take place in Lake Forest is a welcome change in Hester's eyes. "I love that [camp] is here. It's just a no-brainer," Hester said. "You have everything you need camera crew, the facilities. No disrespect to Bourbonnais and their facilities out there, but it's hard to compete against an NFL facility. I know the players are happy; they're closer to home and can see their family a bit more. It's better to be honest with you." The Bears held their camp in Bourbonnais for 18 years, and Hester participated in eight of them, though he would have preferred staying close to home and practicing at Halas Hall instead. Reflecting on his Hall of Fame moment It's been nearly a full year since Hester officially achieved football immortality when he was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. It was a dream come true for Hester, who soaked up every moment from that weekend with many other NFL legends. One year later, though, there is a particular moment that sticks out to him when he reflects on the experience. "The night we got the jackets, the 'Gauntlet,'" he said. "Just something about that Gauntlet—it was unreal because you have to be a Hall of Famer to experience that type of feeling. Unfortunately, there are going to be a lot of people who never get to experience that, but that feeling alone was like walking down memory lane of your whole childhood. It was special." Hester was one of three former Bears greats to get enshrined last year, joining defensive end Julius Peppers and the late Steve "Mongo" McMichael. He was the first return specialist to make it into Canton. Next Bears player to make the Hall of Fame While former Bears defensive end Jared Allen will be enshrined this weekend, he only had a cup of coffee in Chicago. So who should be the next prominent Bears player to make the Hall of Fame? Former Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher recently cast his vote for center Olin Kreutz, but Hester has a different opinion. "Probably Charles Tillman," he said. "I feel like players that get into the Hall of Fame do stuff that's never been done before. When you set records and do things that have never been done before, then your name deserves to be among the great ones." Hester and Tillman were teammates for eight seasons, and he got a front-row seat to view Tillman's signature move, the "Peanut Punch." Tillman forced 44 fumbles during his career, the sixth-most in NFL history, and the most among any defensive back. Like Hester, Tillman changed the game as we know it, and his former teammate believes he should get recognized for that.
NBC Sports
13-06-2025
- Politics
- NBC Sports
NFL explains its Saturday "Kids Zone" activation at National Mall
Well, at least we know they're still paying attention. After getting no response to three different emails sent this week regarding the hidden 61-page ruling in the collusion grievance, we heard from the NFL on Friday afternoon in response to an item posted based on a report from John Ourand of Puck. Ourand explained that the NFL will sponsor a 'Kids Zone' activation on the National Mall before Saturday's military parade. Citing the festival map, Ourand pointed out that the NFL is the only brand mentioned. The NFL has contacted PFT in response to the item that was posted on Friday morning regarding the proverbial minefield through which the league is tiptoeing. Here's the full content of the email: 'The NFL joins more than 30 companies in supporting the celebration of the Army's 250th anniversary tomorrow on the National Mall and our planning with the Army and USAA, a longtime NFL partner, has been underway for several years. 'The NFL's area will be a Salute to Service 'Kids Zone' activation, providing younger participants and military families the opportunity to engage in football drills and skills. The area will be open from 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. The parade begins at 6:30 p.m. ET. 'Other organizations on site include: USAA, Walmart, T-Mobile, GE Aerospace, Boeing and nonprofits like Gary Sinise Foundation and Wounded Warrior Project.' For whatever reason, only the NFL is mentioned on the map. For a very good reason, the NFL is sensitive to the potential impression that it is aligning itself with a polarizing administration. However, the NFL also must be careful not to alienate the administration.
