49ers' Christian McCaffrey wins NFL's Salute to Service Award: 'Large honor'

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SAN FRANCISCO – Christian McCaffrey was named the recipient of the NFL's 2026 Salute to Service Award, introduced by USAA.

The San Francisco 49ers operating again launched "23 and Troops" in 2021 to concentrate on post-traumatic stress and athlete-level look after veterans. The muse has raised $700,000 for navy help and paid off vacation layaway for 515 navy households.

McCaffrey grew up a few half hour away from a navy base, so he all the time knew that this was the neighborhood he needed to assist out.

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Christian McCaffrey of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates throughout an NFL recreation towards the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Monetary Area on Jan. 11, 2026, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Cooper Neill/Getty Photographs)

"I feel it was simply from a younger age, my mother and father instilled on me to respect the navy and what it means to dwell on this nation. I all the time appreciated that, and rising up in that space, plenty of your mentors find yourself turning into veterans as a result of they're within the space, and also you study from them, you find out about their experiences, and a few of the stuff that they did or noticed. And it made me actually simply respect it much more," McCaffrey mentioned.

"It is an enormous honor," he added. "You recognize, we get to play a youngsters' recreation for a dwelling, and we play in entrance of thousands and thousands of individuals. And plenty of that's due to the individuals who have sacrificed for us. And it isn't simply the individuals who have served or are serving, it is their households, their wives, their husbands, their youngsters, who should undergo a lot, and plenty of it is unseen. They do not get credit score for these items."

San Francisco 49ers operating again Christian McCaffrey warms up earlier than a recreation towards the Denver Broncos at Levi's Stadium. (David Gonzales/Imagn Photographs)

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When starting his basis and doing his analysis, McCaffrey was struck when he learn that 22 veterans commit suicide every day .

"That is why I am doing this. I am making an attempt to cut down that quantity as a lot as attainable," he mentioned.

Dallas Cowboys huge receiver CeeDee Lamb additionally gave Tremendous Bowl tickets to S.J. Farin, a 14-year vet and a Purple Coronary heart recipient.

"It means every thing to me," Lamb mentioned to Fox Information Digital on radio row. I've an uncle who can also be within the Air Drive, it means every thing. I do know what it takes to essentially simply have a member of the family who's not all the time round, however is certainly doing every thing to make it possible for we're protected. So for me, it is simply actually simply giving again to what's deserved."

The award is staying with the 49ers, as George Kittle was final 12 months's recipient.

George Kittle of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after a landing with Christian McCaffrey of the San Francisco 49ers throughout the fourth quarter within the recreation towards the Seattle Seahawks at Levi's Stadium on Dec. 10, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Photographs)

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"Anytime you are round guys like George who've the persona and the play and is a Corridor of Fame participant, however then additionally loves giving again, it is inspiring, and it makes you wish to do the identical," McCaffrey mentioned.