Linebacker Patrick Willis was named Tuesday as the 49ers’ nominee for the first-ever NFL Sportsmanship Award. Each team nominated one of its players for the award, which will annually honor NFL players who exemplify outstanding sportsmanship on the field.
A panel of former players will pick eight finalists (four in the AFC; four in the NFC). 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 when current players vote on Dec. 19. From the eight finalists, each team’s players will submit a consensus vote of its choice for the winner. As in Pro Bowl voting, a team cannot vote for its own player, according to the NFL.
The award will be 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 on the Fourth Annual NFL Honors show on Saturday, Jan. 31, on NBC, the night before Super Bowl XLIX in Glendale, Arizona. The winner will receive a $25,000 donation from the NFL Foundation to a charity of his choice.
TEAM NOMINEE
Arizona: WR Larry Fitzgerald
Atlanta: RB Steven Jackson
Baltimore: WR Torrey Smith
Buffalo: WR Chris Hogan
Cincinnati: CB Terence Newman
Carolina: LB Thomas Davis
Chicago: RB Matt Forté
Cleveland: CB Joe Haden
Dallas: TE Jason Witten
Denver: DE DeMarcus Ware
Detroit: WR Calvin Johnson
Green Bay: WR Jordy Nelson
Houston: DE J.J. Watt
Indianapolis: WR T.Y. Hilton
Jacksonville: DT Roy Miller III
Kansas City: QB Alex Smith
Miami: DE Cameron Wake
Minnesota: LB Chad Greenway
New England: WR/ST Matthew Slater
New Orleans: WR Marques Colston
NY Giants: LB Jameel McClain
NY Jets: T D'Brickashaw Ferguson
Oakland: S Charles Woodson
Philadelphia: LB Connor Barwin
Pittsburgh: S Troy Polamalu
San Diego: TE Antonio Gates
San Francisco: LB Patrick Willis
Seattle: LB K.J. Wright
St. Louis: DE Robert Quinn
Tampa Bay: DT Gerald McCoy
Tennessee: S George Wilson
Washington: S Ryan Clark
