The Jets found a real diamond in the rough when they lured Steve McLendon from the Steelers. Ever since, McLendon has been a defensive anchor for New York but, more importantly, a leader.
This year, his efforts as a leader are being noticed.
Every season the National Football League recognizes one player for their conduct on the field. This individual is selected as the recipient of the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award. New York has decided to nominate McLendon as their team representative.
The honor is named after the founding owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Art Rooney. Rooney is also a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
To become a finalist, a panel of former players from the NFL Legends Community narrows the field. Each team nominates one player, thus leaving 32 athletes for the panel to consider. They narrow the nominees to eight and leave the rest to current NFL players.
#Jets NT Steve McLendon is the team's nominee for the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award.
A panel including Curtis Martin, Warrick Dunn, Karl Mecklenburg & Leonard Wheeler chooses 8 finalists. The winner is then determined by a vote of current NFL players.
— Dennis Waszak Jr. (@DWAZ73) November 14, 2019
The award is decided by a vote among players. Alongside the honor, the NFL Foundation grants a $25,000 donation to a charity of the player’s choosing.
Past winners, from most recent, include Drew Brees, Luke Kuechly, Frank Gore, Charles Woodson and Larry Fitzgerald.