:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/51720821/113574574.0.jpg)
With Veteran’s Day coming this week, the NFL is partnering with the Armed Forces’ Salute to Service campaign, which honors men and women in the military at home and abroad, as well as their families.
During the month of November, the league and its 32 teams will be honoring our nation’s military through this campaign. As part of it, the NFL and USAA, the NFL's Official Military Appreciation Sponsor, have announced the 32 nominees for the Salute to Service Award.
For the Cincinnati Bengals, their nominee is running backs coach Kyle Caskey. Now in his seventh season on the Bengals’ coaching staff, Caskey is in the middle of his third year as the team’s running backs coach after previously working as an offensive quality control coach and assistant offensive line coach.
Caskey is being nominated for this award because, inspired by his grandfather’s legacy of service, he has been involved with the Disabled American Veterans charity, which empowers veterans to lead high-quality lives with respect and dignity, and Honor Flight Network, which transports veterans to Washington D.C. to visit memorials dedicated to honor their service and sacrifices. Here’s more on Caskey’s story and nomination.
Cincinnati Bengals Running Backs Coach Kyle Caskey never got to meet his grandfather Lieutenant Colonel Roy John White, but White's sacrifice left a lasting impact on Caskey and is the driving force for his support of the military. White, who served in the Air Force, died on active duty.
"Unfortunately I never got to know him, but I have heard great stories about him and his passion for serving our country," said Caskey. Caskey has been involved with the Disabled American Veterans charity, which empowers veterans to lead high-quality lives with respect and dignity, and Honor Flight Network, which transports veterans to Washington D.C. to visit memorials dedicated to honor the services and sacrifices of themselves and their friends.
"It means a lot to be able to help veterans go to Washington D.C. for the first time to see that our country appreciates and honors the sacrifices that are made during war," said Caskey. Caskey, who played tight end at Texas A&M, always knew he was going to be an Aggie. Caskey was named after Kyle Field and his great uncle wrote the Aggie War Hymn while serving in France during World War I.
The Salute to Service Award was created to acknowledge the efforts by members of the NFL community who best honor and support U.S. military members, veterans and their families. For the 2015 NFL season, USAA and the NFL presented Tampa Buccaneers wide receiver Vincent Jackson with the 2015 Salute to Service Award at the 5th Annual NFL Honors awards ceremony.
The Salute to Service Award is part of the NFL and USAA's commitment to honor those serving in our nation’s military. That also includes the NFL Salute to Service games, which is currently taking place.
For every point scored during the NFL's 32 designated Salute to Service games, the league donates $1,000 to each of its core military non-profit partners – the Pat Tillman Foundation, USO and Wounded Warrior Project.
The Bengals will take part in this effort in Week 11 when they host the Buffalo Bills at Paul Brown Stadium.
Here are the games that are a part of the donation program:
October 30:
November 6:
- Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens
- Dallas Cowboys at Cleveland Browns
- Indianapolis Colts at Green Bay Packers
- Jacksonville Jaguars at Kansas City Chiefs
- Carolina Panthers at Los Angeles Rams
- New York Jets at Miami Dolphins
- Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings
- Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants
- Denver Broncos at Oakland Raiders
- New Orleans Saints at San Francisco 49ers
- Buffalo Bills at Seattle Seahawks
November 13:
- San Francisco 49ers at Arizona Cardinals
- Kansas City Chiefs at Carolina Panthers
- Houston Texans at Jacksonville Jaguars
- Seattle Seahawks at New England Patriots
- Denver Broncos at New Orleans Saints
- Los Angeles Rams at New York Jets
- Atlanta Falcons at Philadelphia Eagles
- Dallas Cowboys at Pittsburgh Steelers
- Miami Dolphins at San Diego Chargers
- Chicago Bears at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Green Bay Packers at Tennessee Titans
November 20:
- Buffalo Bills at Cincinnati Bengals
- Baltimore Ravens at Dallas Cowboys
- Jacksonville Jaguars at Detroit Lions
- Tennessee Titans at Indianapolis Colts
- Green Bay Packers at Washington Redskins
November 27:
- Arizona Cardinals at Atlanta Falcons
- Jacksonville Jaguars at Buffalo Bills
- Tennessee Titans at Chicago Bears
- Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos
To learn more about the Salute to Service Award nominations, visit www.nfl.com/salute.