Andrew Whitworth, NFL Legend
Throughout his playing career and now as an NFL Legend, Andrew Whitworth has remained deeply committed to the Los Angeles community, especially to supporting military members and veterans. His dedication was profoundly shaped by personal loss. In 2006, the same year he was drafted into the NFL, Whitworth's college roommate and best friend, Lee Deal, was killed in action. That tragedy became a lasting reminder of the sacrifices made by those who serve, and it fueled Whitworth's ongoing efforts to honor and uplift the military community.
Whitworth exemplifies the core values of the NFL's Salute to Service initiative to honor, empower, and connect with service members, veterans, and their families. Most recently, when wildfires devastated parts of Los Angeles in January, he visited the National Guard base camp in Malibu to boost morale among the 400 soldiers actively engaged in relief and recovery efforts at the heart of the crisis.