Bengals Nominate Landon Robinson for Salute to Service
The Cincinnati Bengals have nominated rookie defensive tackle Landon Robinson for the 2026 NFL Salute to Service Award.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Military
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The Cincinnati Bengals nominated rookie defensive tackle Landon Robinson for the 2026 NFL Salute to Service Award, which recognizes players, coaches, staff and alumni for their commitment to military and veteran communities. Robinson is a U.S. Naval Academy graduate commissioned as a Marine second lieutenant.
Why it matters
The nomination highlights a current NFL player with an active military commitment and his work on youth mental health. For Cincinnati readers, it ties a local team's roster to military service and community advocacy.
Each of the NFL's 32 teams submits a nomination, and USAA will contribute $25,000 to military aid societies in the recipient's name. The NFL Foundation will separately donate $25,000 to the recipient's military nonprofit of choice, and the finalists are not yet known.
The players
Landon Robinson
A rookie defensive tackle for the Cincinnati Bengals and Naval Academy graduate who plans to host disabled veterans at Bengals games.
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati-based NFL franchise that drafted Robinson in the seventh round and submitted his nomination.
USAA
A financial services company that is the presenting sponsor of the NFL Salute to Service Award.
The details
Robinson, a seventh-round pick from the Naval Academy, honored four soldiers killed in a 2025 training flight at the Army-Navy Game by wearing a patch for their unit. He and his mother, Patrice Robinson, created the Landon Robinson Foundation in April to address youth suicide.
Timeline
May 22, 2026: Robinson commissioned as a Marine second lieutenant.
April 2026: Landon Robinson Foundation created with his mother.
January 2027: Three award finalists to be announced.
February 2027: Recipient recognized at NFL Honors during Super Bowl LXI week in Los Angeles.
Season Trajectory
The NFL Salute to Service Award, presented by USAA, recognizes players, coaches, staff and alumni each season for military and veteran support. Robinson's nomination places the Bengals' rookie class within a league-wide tradition of honoring service members.
Fans can vote to help determine the three finalists before the January 2027 announcement. Those planning to attend NFL Honors in February should note that the event takes place during Super Bowl LXI week in Los Angeles.
The takeaway
Recognition programs like the Salute to Service Award give fans a way to support service members beyond the field. Following nominees' charitable work can offer practical ways to get involved locally.
What happens next
Three finalists will be announced in January 2027, and the winner will be recognized during NFL Honors in February 2027 in Los Angeles.
Further reading
Explore more military news from Cincinnati's perspective on service members and veterans.
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