FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Atlanta Falcons nominated inside linebacker Kaden Elliss for the 2025 Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award.
The NFL announced every team’s nomination Wednesday. The annual award recognizes individuals around the league who exemplify outstanding sportsmanship. It was created in 2014 to honor the late founding owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pro Football Hall of Fame member Art Rooney Sr.
"Kaden Elliss, that's self-explanatory," Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said. "The guy he is in our community. The guy he is for our team. He's our captain. He's one of the better people I've been around in my life, just in general, football or whatever. Just in all walks, all facets of life. You're talking about a family man, talking about in our community, talking about in his community, his family, his brothers. It's just a bunch of things where you can go into all those phases of it and make him that guy. For Kaden, it feels really normal and really great."
According to the league's announcement, "a panel of former players from the NFL Legends Community — Warrick Dunn, 2014 Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award recipient Larry Fitzgerald, Pro Football Hall of Famer Curtis Martin and Leonard Wheeler — will select eight finalists (four in the AFC and four in the NFC) from the 32 nominees. The eight finalists will be listed on the Pro Bowl ballot under the NFL Sportsmanship Award category when players vote in December."
"Sportsmanship is at the very core of the game, the foundation of our values that are shared across all levels of the sport," NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent said. "These Rooney Sportsmanship Award nominees demonstrate to the world how the game is played with respect and integrity at the highest level of competition."
Elliss joined the Falcons in 2023 after four seasons with the New Orleans Saints. He was named a captain in Atlanta for the first time ever this season.
The Falcons most recently snapped their five-game losing streak with a Week 12 win against the Saints in New Orleans. In the postgame locker room, Falcons inside linebacker Divine Deablo credited Elliss with rallying the defense during a tough time.
"I love Kaden," Deablo said. "He's my captain. He can do everything in my eyes, and I appreciate him."
Last year, the Falcons nominated defensive tackle Grady Jarrett. Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen ultimately won. There has never been a winner from Atlanta.
