Vikings running back Aaron Jones Sr. named team's Salute to Service nominee
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
The Minnesota Vikings named running back Aaron Jones Sr.
The honor ties to his parents' 56 combined years of Army service and his military-family foundation.
Background
Aaron Jones Sr. is a 31-year-old Minnesota Vikings running back, drafted in 2017 out of UTEP, who has also served as a USO Ambassador. His military connection comes from his family: his late father Alvin Jones, Sr. and mother Vurgess each served in the U.S. Army and retired as sergeant majors, and his older brother Xavier serves in the U.S. Air Force. In 2020 he and his twin brother Alvin Jones Jr. founded the A&A All the Way Foundation, which emphasizes support for youth in military families. The nomination comes as the Vikings' backfield has shifted toward a committee split with Jordan Mason.
How it unfolded
- Aug 12, 2026Vikings training camp observations noted Jordan Mason and Aaron Jones Sr. bursting for big gains.
- Sep 21, 2026Jones' 23 carries helped key a Vikings win at Chicago — his most rushing attempts as a Viking and his 23rd 100-yard game.
- Oct 22, 2026ESPN reported Jones, who turns 32 in December, took 90% of the Vikings' running back carries and played 81% of offensive snaps during Jordan Mason's four-game absence after an MCL injury in Week 2.
- Nov 4, 2026NFL.com listed Jones as the Vikings' Salute to Service nominee, noting his parents' Army service and his brother's Air Force service.
- Nov 5, 2026The Vikings announced Jones as their 2026 Salute to Service Award nominee, his third straight year; he is one of 32 nominees, with fan voting through Nov. 30, 2026.
- Nov 6, 2026FantasySP noted Jones was cleared from recent knee soreness but handled just 13 total carries over his past two outings, with Carson Wentz starting at quarterback because Kyler Murray was ruled out with a hamstring injury.
Key terms
- Salute to Service
- An annual NFL honor presented by USAA recognizing exceptional support for U.S. service members, veterans and their families.
- USO Ambassador
- A representative role for the USO, a nonprofit that provides entertainment and services to U.S. military members and their families.
- MCL injury
- A major ligament on the inner side of the knee that resists valgus forces.
Source: Wikipedia
Who’s saying what
- Official
- Ret. SFC Ben Derek, a U.S. Army veteran and Green Beret, said Jones looked him in the eyes and truly saw him, and that "With his family's military background, he gets it."
- Player
- Jones said "It's amazing to be able to use my platform in the right way, to impact people where they know, 'Hey, this guy cares about us, our children, the military in general.'"
- Analysts
- FantasyPros' Derek Brown wrote that Jones "has shown his age this season with only 1.97 yards after contact per attempt and a 12% missed tackle rate" and called him "a touchdown-dependent flex this week."