NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota is once again the team's nominee for the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award.
It's the third year in a row Mariota has been up for the award.
Each NFL team nominated one of its players for the award, which recognizes players around the league who exemplify outstanding sportsmanship on the field. The award was created in 2014 in honor of the late founding owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pro Football Hall of Famer Art Rooney, Sr.
Mariota, the second overall pick of the Titans in the 2015 NFL Draft, has been a team captain in each of his first four NFL seasons.
A panel of former players from the NFL Legends Community will select eight finalists (four in the AFC and four in the NFC) from the 32 nominees. The panel is comprised of Warrick Dunn, Curtis Martin, Karl Mecklenburg and Leonard Wheeler. The eight finalists will be listed on the Pro Bowl ballot under the NFL Sportsmanship Award category when players vote on Friday, December 14.
The winner of the NFL Sportsmanship Award is determined by a vote of current NFL players. From the eight finalists, each team's players will submit a consensus vote of their choice for the winner.
The award is presented each year to an NFL player who best demonstrates the qualities of on-field sportsmanship, including fair play, respect for the game and opponents, and integrity in competition.
The winner will be announced during the nationally televised NFL Honors show on Saturday, February 2 on CBS, the night before Super Bowl LIII. He will receive a $25,000 donation from the NFL Foundation to a charity of his choice, along with a trophy that represents the role that sportsmanship plays in the game and how NFL players that demonstrate integrity and honor on the field serve as role models for players at all levels.
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Past recipients for the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award:*
2017: LB Luke Kuechly (Panthers)
2016: RB Frank Gore (Colts)
2015: CB Charles Woodson (Raiders)
2014: WR Larry Fitzgerald (Cardinals)
