Chiefs nominate legendary play-by-play announcer Mitch Holthus for prestigious NFL award
The Kansas City Chiefs have nominated legendary play-by-play announcer Mitch Holthus for a prestigious NFL award. The Salute to Service Award is awarded annually to NFL players, coaches, staff, and alumni who make exceptional efforts to honor and support military and veteran communities. Each team can nominate one player, coach, staff, or alumni per year to […]
The Kansas City Chiefs have nominated legendary play-by-play announcer Mitch Holthus for a prestigious NFL award.
The Salute to Service Award is awarded annually to NFL players, coaches, staff, and alumni who make exceptional efforts to honor and support military and veteran communities. Each team can nominate one player, coach, staff, or alumni per year to a group of 32 for the off-the-field honor.
“USAA and the NFL founded the Salute to Service Award to celebrate the impactful military appreciation efforts throughout the league and to inspire fans to do the same,” said Major General (Ret.) John Richardson, USAA senior vice president and head of military affairs, via press release. “It’s our mission to bring greater awareness to the commitment and sacrifice embodied by the military community, and each Salute to Service nominee sets an example of how we can all show our appreciation in return."
Holthus just notched his 300th career win as a play-by-play announcer for the Chiefs and remains one of the most iconic voices in football. Here's what they had to say of Holthus and his commitment to military members in the NFL's press release:
"The longest tenured and most decorated play-by-play voice in the history of the Kansas City Chiefs, Mitch Holthus was born to do two things: become an industry benchmark as one of the NFL’s most recognizable broadcasters and ardently support and honor those with ties to the armed forces. Holthus was born in Fort Lewis, Washington, while his father, El Dean, was serving in the U.S. Army. As a result, he has a focus centered on honoring, empowering and connecting to military members and their families. Holthus empowers military members thanks to his work with groups including The Battle Within, an organization whose mission is to break down barriers and provide all veterans and first responders the mental and behavioral health support they need. Additionally, he developed an active relationship at Fort Leonard Wood, visiting with the 5th Engineering Battalion to combat suicide. He honors the military with visits to Leavenworth National Cemetery, and by sharing stories with various Gold Star families and active-duty troops. He has an uncanny ability to connect those serving our great country to their beloved Chiefs. He’s hosted various goodwill visits at military bases throughout the region including serving as the emcee of multiple draft day celebrations at Whiteman Air Force Base and Fort Riley. He gives remarks at the United States Army Command and General Staff College. These initiatives, along with countless other interactions with those serving our country, are some of the many reasons that Mitch Holthus is the Chiefs nominee for the 2024 Salute to Service Award presented by USAA."
To cast your vote for Holthus, visit NFL.com/SaluteFanVote from Nov. 1 through Nov. 30. Fans can submit one vote per day for Holthus. The league will announce three finalists in January, while the winner will be announced at the NFL Honors ceremony in January. Should Holthus win the award, he'd become the first member of the Chiefs' organization to win the award while with the team. Former Chiefs DE Jared Allen won the award in 2014 as a member of the Chicago Bears.
Chiefs HC Andy Reid says new DE Joshua Uche has a good chance to play this week and there’s precedent for it
New Kansas City Chiefs DE Joshua Uche could follow in Melvin Ingram’s footsteps.
