ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Denver Broncos fullback/tight end Andrew Beck has been named the winner of the 11th annual Salute to Service Award, presented by USAA, the NFL and USAA announced.
The award acknowledges exceptional effort to honor and support members of the military community. Beck is the first Bronco to earn this national accolade and the first Denver player since 1992 (John Elway, Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year) to receive an off-the-field honor by the NFL.
"To win this award means so much to me. Working with the military and giving back to them is something I'm passionate about," Beck said. "I grew up in a military family, so I know the things that they go through. My dad [who is in the military] is such a big role model to me. This will be a memory I cherish for the rest of my life."
Beck's father, a Brigadier General in the U.S. Army, surprised him with the news of his recognition during a military re-enlistment ceremony hosted for Fort Carson Army Base personnel at UCHealth Training Center on Saturday, Jan. 22.
Beck was honored alongside former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Jarret Johnson and current Chicago Bears tight end Jimmy Graham as finalists for the award. The third-year veteran will be recognized at "NFL Honors," a prime-time awards show airing live Thursday at 7 p.m. MT (9 p.m. ET) on ABC from the YouTube Theater in Los Angeles.
As the recipient, Beck will receive a $25,000 contribution from USAA to the official aid societies representing each of the military branches. The NFL will match USAA's donation of $25,000, which will be donated to Freedom Service Dogs and the USO — two nonprofits hand-selected by Beck. He will also receive a specially designed military challenge coin, which recognizes his commitment to the military.
View photos of the surprise announcement of Andrew Beck's national Salute to Service Award, presented by USAA.
Recruits stand in line at a re-enlistment ceremony with Fort Carson's retention team at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on January 22, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Recruits stand in line at a re-enlistment ceremony with Fort Carson's retention team at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on January 22, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Recruits stand in line at a re-enlistment ceremony with Fort Carson's retention team at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on January 22, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Colonel Nathan Springer, Fort Carson Garrison Commander, at a re-enlistment ceremony for recruits with Fort Carson's retention team at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on January 22, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Andrew Beck shakes hands with Colonel Nathan Springer, Fort Carson Garrison Commander, at a re-enlistment ceremony for recruits with Fort Carson's retention team at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on January 22, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Andrew Beck and Colonel Nathan Springer, Fort Carson Garrison Commander, at a re-enlistment ceremony for recruits with Fort Carson's retention team at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on January 22, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Andrew Beck listens to Colonel Nathan Springer, Fort Carson Garrison Commander, at a re-enlistment ceremony for recruits with Fort Carson's retention team at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on January 22, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Recruits recite a pledge at a re-enlistment ceremony with Fort Carson's retention team at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on January 22, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Andrew Beck and Colonel Nathan Springer, Fort Carson Garrison Commander, at a re-enlistment ceremony for recruits with Fort Carson's retention team at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on January 22, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Andrew Beck and Colonel Nathan Springer, Fort Carson Garrison Commander, at a re-enlistment ceremony for recruits with Fort Carson's retention team at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on January 22, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Andrew Beck and Colonel Nathan Springer, Fort Carson Garrison Commander, at a re-enlistment ceremony for recruits with Fort Carson's retention team at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on January 22, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Andrew Beck and Colonel Nathan Springer, Fort Carson Garrison Commander, at a re-enlistment ceremony for recruits with Fort Carson's retention team at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on January 22, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Andrew Beck at a re-enlistment ceremony for recruits with Fort Carson's retention team at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on January 22, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Andrew Beck and Colonel Nathan Springer, Fort Carson Garrison Commander, at a re-enlistment ceremony for recruits with Fort Carson's retention team at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on January 22, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Andrew Beck and Colonel Nathan Springer, Fort Carson Garrison Commander, at a re-enlistment ceremony for recruits with Fort Carson's retention team at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on January 22, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Andrew Beck at a re-enlistment ceremony for recruits with Fort Carson's retention team at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on January 22, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Andrew Beck is surprised by his father, Christopher at a re-enlistment ceremony for recruits with Fort Carson's retention team at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on January 22, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Andrew Beck is surprised by his father, Christopher at a re-enlistment ceremony for recruits with Fort Carson's retention team at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on January 22, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Andrew Beck listens to his father, Christopher at a re-enlistment ceremony for recruits with Fort Carson's retention team at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on January 22, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Christopher Beck, Andrew's father, speaks at a re-enlistment ceremony for recruits with Fort Carson's retention team at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on January 22, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Andrew Beck listens to his father, Christopher, at a re-enlistment ceremony for recruits with Fort Carson's retention team at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on January 22, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Andrew Beck shows his surprise with his wife, Hope, at a re-enlistment ceremony for recruits with Fort Carson's retention team at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on January 22, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Andrew Beck listens to his father, Christopher, speak at a re-enlistment ceremony for recruits with Fort Carson's retention team at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on January 22, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Andrew Beck listens to his father, Christopher, speak at a re-enlistment ceremony for recruits with Fort Carson's retention team at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on January 22, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Andrew Beck shows his shock as his father, Christopher, surprises him with the news that he won the national Salute to Service Award presented by USAA at a re-enlistment ceremony for recruits with Fort Carson's retention team at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on January 22, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Andrew Beck shows his shock as his father, Christopher, surprises him with the news that he won the national Salute to Service Award presented by USAA at a re-enlistment ceremony for recruits with Fort Carson's retention team at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on January 22, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Andrew Beck hugs his father, Christopher, as he surprises him with the news that he won the national Salute to Service Award presented by USAA at a re-enlistment ceremony for recruits with Fort Carson's retention team at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on January 22, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Andrew Beck's father, Christopher, holds an American flag at a re-enlistment ceremony for recruits with Fort Carson's retention team at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on January 22, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Andrew Beck and his mother, Sally, at his Salute to Service Award surprise and a re-enlistment ceremony with Fort Carson's retention team at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on January 22, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Andrew Beck and his wife, Hope, and his father, Christopher, at his Salute to Service Award surprise and a re-enlistment ceremony with Fort Carson's retention team at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on January 22, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Andrew Beck at his Salute to Service Award surprise and a re-enlistment ceremony with Fort Carson's retention team at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on January 22, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Andrew Beck's father, Christopher, greets a recruit at a re-enlistment ceremony with Fort Carson's retention team at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on January 22, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Andrew Beck's father, Christopher, greets a recruit at a re-enlistment ceremony with Fort Carson's retention team at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on January 22, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Andrew Beck greets a recruit at a re-enlistment ceremony with Fort Carson's retention team at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on January 22, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Andrew Beck accepts an American flag as a gift at his Salute to Service Award surprise and a re-enlistment ceremony with Fort Carson's retention team at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on January 22, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Andrew Beck's father, Christopher, speaks with recruits at a re-enlistment ceremony with Fort Carson's retention team at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on January 22, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Andrew Beck signs autographs at his Salute to Service Award surprise and a re-enlistment ceremony with Fort Carson's retention team at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on January 22, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
A view of the framed jersey presented to Andrew Beck at his Salute to Service Award surprise and a re-enlistment ceremony with Fort Carson's retention team at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on January 22, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
A view of Andrew Beck's mother and her Broncos army pin at his Salute to Service Award surprise and a re-enlistment ceremony with Fort Carson's retention team at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on January 22, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
A group photo of Andrew Beck, his father, Christopher, and enlisted military members from Fort Carson at his Salute to Service Award surprise and a re-enlistment ceremony with Fort Carson's retention team at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on January 22, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
A group photo of Andrew Beck, his father, Christopher, his mother, Sally and his wife, Hope, at his Salute to Service Award surprise and a re-enlistment ceremony with Fort Carson's retention team at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on January 22, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Andrew Beck signs autographs for recruits at his Salute to Service Award surprise and a re-enlistment ceremony with Fort Carson's retention team at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on January 22, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Andrew Beck poses for a photo with for recruits at his Salute to Service Award surprise and a re-enlistment ceremony with Fort Carson's retention team at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on January 22, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
Andrew Beck's father, Christopher, looks at the framed jersey presented to his son at his Salute to Service Award surprise and a re-enlistment ceremony with Fort Carson's retention team at UCHealth Training Center in Englewood, Colorado on January 22, 2022. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
"Coming from a military family thanks to his father's service, Andrew Beck definitely knows that the military community needs our support, and he has admirably used his platform as an NFL player to give back to his fellow military families and those who choose to wear the uniform," Vice Admiral (Ret.) John Bird, USAA Senior Vice President of Military Affairs said. "We thank Andrew for continuing to serve all those who serve and are pleased to honor him as the recipient of this year's 'Salute to Service Award presented by USAA.'"
Freedom Service Dogs is a nonprofit located in Englewood, Colorado, that helps veterans and active-duty military find a new level of confidence and independence with the help of specially trained service dogs. This past season, Beck represented their Operation Freedom program for My Cause My Cleats.
Hailing from a military family, Beck has previously partnered with USO Colorado on a variety of initiatives. Most recently he hosted a military appreciation barbecue in Spring 2021 for military families at Fort Carson — the same base his family used to be stationed at.
Beck has been the team's nominee for the Salute to Service Award presented by USAA for two consecutive years (2020-21), and he has reached more than 425 military families through his strategic outreach.
USAA is the Official Salute to Service Partner of the Denver Broncos. To learn more about the Salute to Service Award presented by USAA, please visit www.nfl.com/salute.
About USAA
Founded in 1922 by a group of military officers, USAA is among the leading providers of insurance, banking and investment and retirement solutions to 13 million members of the U.S. military, veterans who have honorably served and their families. Headquartered in San Antonio, USAA has offices in seven U.S. cities and three overseas locations and employs more than 37,000 people worldwide. Each year, the company contributes to national and local nonprofits in support of military families and communities where employees live and work. For more information about USAA, follow us on Facebook or Twitter (@USAA), or visit usaa.com.
