Each year, the NFL — in partnership with USAA — names one nominee from each team and then one winner for the Salute to Service Award. The Salute to Service Award presented by USAA acknowledges the exceptional efforts by members of the NFL community to honor and support U.S. service members, veterans and their families.
This year, the Los Angeles Rams nominee is none other than All-Pro wide receiver Cooper Kupp. The nominees were announced on Wednesday morning, with Kupp receiving the bid for L.A. as one of the 32 nominees:
We are proud to announce that @CooperKupp is our 2023 nominee for the #SalutetoService Award. 👏
Vote now ➡️ https://t.co/2PRQ0dTLcO pic.twitter.com/1sonMjDTkS
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) November 1, 2023
Kupp has long been dedicated to showing his appreciation for the military community, hence the reason for this nomination, via the NFL website.
“Cooper’s unwavering commitment to Salute to Service is deeply rooted in his profound appreciation for service members, underpinned by a strong familial connection. In a remarkable demonstration of his dedication, Cooper collaborated with the Call of Duty Endowment during the My Cause My Cleats initiative last year.
“Through this partnership, he contributed over $50,000 to the endowment, which plays a pivotal role in preparing veterans for high-quality job opportunities. This selfless act of generosity underscores Cooper’s profound belief in the importance of assisting veterans in their transition to civilian life. Not content with monetary contributions alone, Cooper goes the extra mile by channeling the proceeds from his “Team CK” merchandise sales towards multiple military organizations that actively support service members during this transition.
“Cooper personally purchases tickets for home games and directs them towards service members and veterans, ensuring they can attend games. Looking ahead to the upcoming Salute to Service Week, Cooper is set to lead the Rams Holiday for Heroes Campaign. As part of this heartwarming initiative, he will actively engage in writing holiday cards for service members and veterans serving overseas and living domestically. His participation not only uplifts the spirits of these heroes but also fosters a deep sense of connection and appreciation within our community.”
Fans can vote for Kupp to win the award here.
Rams make no move at deadline
The Rams were one of the teams that did not make a move at the trade deadline this season.
While just 3-5 through eight games, the Rams have still been one of the more pleasant surprises in the NFL this year, being competitive and entertaining for the most part. But the front office led by general manager Les Snead chose to stand pat at the deadline.
