Army-Navy Game Named 2025 Recipient of the NFF Distinguished American Award

IRVING, Texas – The National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame announced today the Army-Navy Game, presented by USAA, will be honored as the recipient of the 2025 NFF Distinguished American Award. The official recognition will occur Dec. 9 during the 67th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas at the Bellagio Resort & Casino.

“Few traditions in sports capture the heart of a nation the way the Army-Navy Game does,” said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. “For more than a century, the game has transcended football, reminding us of the values of sacrifice, unity and service. It is a timeless celebration of young men who are not only great athletes but also future leaders of our military, willing to defend our freedoms. The game’s history, pageantry, and enduring significance make it more than a rivalry — it is a national treasure, to be honored, protected, and respected.”

One of the most prestigious honors presented by the NFF, the Distinguished American Award recognizes an outstanding person or entity who has maintained a lifetime of interest in the game and, over a long period of time, has exhibited enviable leadership qualities and made a significant contribution to the betterment of amateur football in the United States.

“Every December, the Army-Navy Game becomes one of the most powerful scenes in all of sports,” said NFF Chairman Archie Manning. “Two fierce rivals play their hearts out for 60 minutes, and then, side by side, they stand together to honor each other’s alma maters. It’s a vivid reminder that while they compete on the field, they are united in a higher calling to serve our country. Honoring the Army-Navy Game with the Distinguished American Award is a recognition of not only a tradition, bit of its importance to our country.”

First played on Nov. 29, 1890, the Army-Navy Game stands as one of college football’s oldest and most storied rivalries. Its tradition stretches beyond athletics, symbolizing the courage and commitment of America’s service academies. It is the one game where every player has volunteered to serve the nation, and each player is willing to sacrifice his life for the people watching. As it is often said: “After the game, everybody on the field is on the same team.”

General Douglas MacArthur, a team manager while a cadet at West Point who would go on to be one of the NFF’s early leaders famously observed: “On the fields of friendly strife are sown the seeds that on other days, on other fields, will bear the fruits of victory.” Nowhere are those words more vividly illustrated than in the Army-Navy Game, where competition on the gridiron serves as preparation for a lifetime of service and leadership on behalf of the nation.

The game, with Navy leading the series 63-55-7, has been televised nationally every year since 1945 with CBS holding the rights since 1996. It has been primarily played in the northeast, with Philadelphia hosting the event 90 times. On two occasions the game ventured west. The 1926 game, which would determine the national champion, was played in front of over 110,000 at the dedication of Chicago’s Soldier Field. In 1983, the iconic Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, played host. This December, Baltimore will take its turn in hosting the Brigade of Midshipmen and Corps of Cadets. Played on the second Saturday of December the rivalry is played unopposed by any FBS or NFL game, providing America’s Game with the undivided attention of the nation.

The game’s stature has attracted some of the most prominent figures in American history. Sitting U.S. presidents have attended more than 10 times, including Theodore Roosevelt, who was the first in 1901, followed by Woodrow Wilson, Calvin Coolidge, Harry Truman, John F. Kennedy (1961 NFF Gold Medal Recipient), Gerald Ford (1972 NFF Gold Medal Recipient), Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama and most recently Donald Trump.  Numerous vice presidents, cabinet officials, military leaders and other dignitaries have made it a priority to support the game’s importance with their attendance.

The game has also been immortalized in movies, television and music, standing as an enduring symbol of pride, patriotism and tradition. A total of 40 Hall of Fame players (22 from Army and 18 from Navy) have appeared in the game, including five Heisman Trophy winners: Doc Blanchard (Army-1945), Glenn Davis (Army-1946), Pete Dawkins (Army-1958), Joe Bellino (Navy-1960) and Roger Staubach (Navy-1963). Nine Hall of Fame coaches (four from Army and five from Navy) have paced the sidelines. The 126th edition of the Army-Navy Game will take place Saturday, December 13, 2025, at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland.

First bestowed in 1966, the NFF Distinguished American Award is presented on special occasions when a truly deserving candidate emerges. The Army-Navy Game will become the 47th recipient of the award, joining an impressive list of previous honorees that includes Major Gen. Charles F. Bolden Jr., Rear Admiral Bill Byrne, Lieutenant General William Carpenter (an NFF College Football Hall of Famer from Army), Bob Hope, Dr. Jerome H. Holland, Vince Lombardi, Gen. Ray Odierno, and Gen. James A. Van Fleet. Click here for the full list of previous recipients of the NFF Distinguished American Award

The Army-Navy Game will be honored during the 67th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas on Dec. 9 at the Bellagio Resort & Casino alongside recipients of the other NFF Major Awards. In addition to the presentation of the NFF Major Awards, the event will provide the stage for the induction of the 2025 NFF College Football Hall of Fame Class; the presentation of the 2025 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards Presented by Fidelity Investments; and the bestowing of the 36^th William V. Campbell Trophy® to the nation's top football scholar-athlete. Click here for the full list of individuals who will be honored at the 67th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas, including how to reserve tickets.