Patriots' Joe Cardona Wins Prestigious NFL Award

"It is a tremendous honor to receive the NFL Salute to Service Award," Cardona said, per the Patriots' website. "I am thankful to the New England Patriots organization for accommodating my military service and I hope to be a model for future players who wish to serve," "I appreciate the partnership between the NFL and our military and the role I have been able to play in it... I am proud to be an Officer in the United States Navy and player in the NFL; with or without recognition I will continue to do my job."

Throughout his career with the Patriots, Cardona has managed the incredibly difficult task of playing football while being an active military member. He was a staff officer at the Naval Academy Preparatory School in Rhode Island during his rookie season in 2015 and was promoted to lieutenant on June 7, 2019, the day of the Patriots' Super Bowl LIII ring ceremony and one day after the 75th anniversary of D-Day.

Today, Cardona is a department head of the Rhode Island-based Maritime Security Squadron 8, helping over 500 sailors across the eastern seaboard.

"Joe Cardona represents the epitome of the NFL's Salute to Service Award," NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said. "His commitment to honoring, empowering, and connecting with the military community as an active service member, while also dedicated to his Patriots teammates, truly sets him apart. He is the true embodiment of what it means to be an American hero. The entire NFL family salutes Joe for his service to our country and congratulates him as the recipient of this important award."

Cardona will be honored at the NFL Honors, airing Thursday at 9 p.m. ET on CBS and NFL Network. USAA will donate $25,000 in his name to aid societies for each military branch, with the NFL donating an additional $25,000 to a military charity of Cardona's choice.