32 Players Nominated for the NFL Sportsmanship Award

Winner to be Announced at NFL Honors before Super Bowl XLIX

The 32 player nominees for the first NFL Sportsmanship Award have been finalized, the NFL announced today. Each NFL team nominated one of its players for the award, which will recognize annually NFL players who exemplify outstanding sportsmanship on the field.

The winner of the NFL Sportsmanship Award will be determined by a vote of current NFL players. A panel of former players from the NFL Legends Community will select from the 32 nominees eight finalists (four in the AFC; four in the NFC). The panel is comprised of WARRICK DUNN, CURTIS MARTIN, KARL MECKLENBURG and LEONARD WHEELER.

The eight finalists will be listed on the Pro Bowl ballot under the NFL Sportsmanship Award when the players vote on December 19. From the eight finalists, each team’s players will submit a consensus vote of its choice for the winner. As in Pro Bowl voting, a team cannot vote for its own player.

The award will be presented each year to an NFL player who best demonstrates the qualities of on-field sportsmanship, including fair play, respect for the game and opponents, and integrity in competition.

The winner selected by the vote of the players will be announced during the nationally televised “4th Annual NFL Honors” show on Saturday, January 31 on NBC, the night before Super Bowl XLIX. He will receive a $25,000 donation from the NFL Foundation to a charity of his choice. He also will be presented with a trophy that will capture the important role that sportsmanship plays in the game and how NFL players that demonstrate integrity and honor on the field serve as role models for other players at all levels.

2014 NFL SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD NOMINEES