Falcons CEO Steve Cannon nominated for Salute to Service Award

It hasn’t been an easy year for Falcons fans. After an ostensibly productive offseason, we hoped the Falcons would field a competitive football team and help us forget, one victory at a time, a year many of us would just as soon forget. That just wasn’t meant to be, and the Falcons started the season with 5 consecutive losses.

But there are always silver linings, even when your favorite football team is 3-6 with no real playoff aspirations. And this week, we learned that Falcons CEO Steve Cannon was again nominated for the Salute to Service Award. (He was the Falcons’ 2019 nominee.)

If you’re unfamiliar with the Salute to Service Award, here’s a quick primer: Every year, the NFL and USAA give the award to an individual who has shown “an exemplary commitment to honoring and supporting the military community.” Nominees are players, coaches, personnel, and alumni nominated by each NFL club.

Cannon’s military connection may be unknown to you, but it’s nothing short of impressive. This is how the NFL’s described it in their press release:

Cannon, who graduated with honors from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1986, was Airborne Ranger qualified and served as 1st Lieutenant in West Germany during the fall of the Iron Curtain. During his time in the Army he also served five years as an artillery officer. Through Cannon’s countless hours of service to multiple military non-profits over the years, his constant “military first” mindset and utilization of the NFL’s platform has provided active duty service members, veterans and military families with first class experiences and support.

In short, Cannon has an excellent track record in this arena. He goes out of his way to prioritize veterans as well as active duty service members, coordinating and participating in events that create lifelong memories for some of the most deserving members of the Falcons’ fan base.

Here’s to you, Mr. Cannon. Well deserved.