Chiefs nominate LT Eric Fisher for NFL’s Salute to Service Award

Chiefs LT Eric Fisher is being recognized for his work with the Military.

The Kansas City Chiefs have nominated starting LT Eric Fisher for the 2020 NFL Salute to Service Award. The annual award is a collaboration between the NFL and USAA that recognizes NFL players, coaches, personnel and alumni who’ve dedicated time to honoring and supporting the U.S. military. Former Chiefs LB Donnie Edwards was the recipient of last year’s award, but this year the team opted to nominate a current member of the team.

Here is why the team chose to nominate Fisher for the award:

“For the past three years, Eric Fisher has worked closely with Reunite the Fight, an organization founded in 2017 in his home state of Michigan. Reunite the Fight was created by a group of Marine combat Veterans who made a commitment to reunite annually after leaving the military. Once life began to get in the way, the veterans realized how much they missed the comradery. It was then they decided to create similar reunions for other veterans. Today, Reunite the Fight reconnects veterans with their fellow service members across the country, taking them on hunting and fishing trips. In 2018, the organization helped reconnect more than 200 Veterans. Fisher began his work with Reunite the Fight in 2017 by sending the group of veterans race gear for a Spartan race the veterans competed in together. Since then he’s participated in golf tournaments benefiting the nonprofit, gifted tickets to veterans and even recruited fellow Chiefs to join the mission by being part of different fundraisers and events. Fisher worked with the organization in 2019 to reconnect retired Marine Corps Sargent Damon Thompson with his fellow Marines. Thompson knew he was meeting Fisher at the Liberty Memorial in Kansas City, Missouri, but had no idea he’d be seeing these former United States Marines for the first time in more than a decade. As Fisher continues to make an impact on the field, it is the time he takes off the field to honor the men and women who have sacrificed for our country that will leave a lasting impression on Chiefs Kingdom.”

The USAA and the NFL will both provide a donation to the award recipient’s military charity of choice.

November is considered the culmination of the league’s Salute to Service initiative. The Chiefs celebrated their Salute to Service game against the Carolina Panthers in Week 9 with a number of pre-game events. The Wichita Navy Color Guard presented the nation’s colors, while the Airman First Class Julian Awari performed the National Anthem virtually.

Marine veteran Eric Gormly was recognized as the team’s Salute to Service honoree. Army ROTC Cadet Justin Lero was recognized as the Salute to Scholars honoree. Finally, Sadie Pitts was awarded the Gold Star Scholarship, which is presented to family members of servicemen and women who’ve died in action since Sept. 11, 2001.

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