Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton has been selected by the team as its Salute to Service Award nominee, the franchise announced on Thursday.
Payton has a strong connection to the military, as his father was a serviceman, and he has been involved with veteran groups for over a decade, according to both USAA and the team.
"His most visible work is through the nonprofit K9s For Warriors, an organization dedicated to ending veteran suicide by pairing veterans with highly trained service dogs," the Broncos said in a statement on Thursday. "Payton funded his first service dog, Gumbo, through K9s For Warriors in 2013, who was later paired with a veteran experiencing invisible wounds of war. He would go on to expand his support through his Play It Forward
Foundation, raising $200,000+ for veteran-service programs and increasing awareness of the challenges many veterans face after their military service ends.
"When he joined the Broncos as head coach in 2023, Payton helped establish a club partnership with K9s For Warriors focused on serving Colorado veterans. Beyond funding the training of service dogs Bucky & Thunder (2023), Crush (2024) and Elway (2025), Payton has used his platform to elevate awareness of veteran mental health challenges and the life-changing impact of service-dog partnerships. Each dog has since been paired with a Colorado veteran, providing daily support, renewed independence and a path toward healing."
Payton's support towards veterans has produced 25 dog-warrior pairings. Payton and the Broncos themselves have always been supportive to the strong military community present in the state of Colorado.
"Sean Payton's commitment embodies the spirit of Salute to Service," said a statement from USAA. "By investing in veterans, elevating awareness of their challenges and creating opportunities for healing, he has transformed gratitude into action and delivered lasting impact for those who have served our nation."
You can vote for Payton's nomination once per day until Nov. 30 on the NFL's Salute to Service website.
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This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: Broncos coach Sean Payton nominated for Salute to Service Award
