Steve Cannon, Chief Executive Officer of the AMB Group, has been nominated as the Atlanta Falcons' nominee for the 2019 Salute to Service Award, which is presented annually by the National Football League and USAA.

The NFL announced the 32 nominees on Monday.

The award, which is in its ninth year, annually "recognizes NFL players, coaches, personnel and Legends who demonstrate an exemplary commitment to honoring and supporting the military community, as nominated by NFL clubs." The recipient for the award will be announced at the NFL Honors show on Feb. 1 in Miami, Fla., the night before the Super Bowl.

The Falcons have won the award for three straight years with Ben Garland (2018), Andre Roberts (2017) and head coach Dan Quinn (2016).

Cannon, who graduated with honors from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, leads all business operations for the Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta United, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, PGA TOUR Superstore and Mountain Sky Guest Ranch. He is also Airborne Ranger qualified and served as first lieutenant in West Germany during the fall of the Iron Curtain.

Cannon said the Falcons – more than any other organization in the NFL – need to get honoring and giving back to the military right.

"Our job is to shine a spotlight on service and sacrifice," Cannon said. "And, for me, that sums it up."

Cannon also noted that with Fort Benning, Fort Stewart and Fort Gordon, there's a larger concentration of military and families "probably more than any other state in the country."

Back in August, the Falcons unveiled the Chair of Honor – a chair that sits unoccupied in a prominent area of Mercedes-Benz Stadium that will never have a season ticket sold for it. The idea behind it, said Cannon, was actually inspired by a United States military tradition that dates back to the Vietnam War, and it's simply referred to as the POW/MIA table.

"So, for us, this chair and this recognition for POWs that really dates back to the Vietnam era, is a powerful symbol that says that sacrifice is going on, it's happened but it happens every single day," Cannon said.

The Falcons also hosted their fifth consecutive Military Appreciation Day during training camp. The event honors those who have served and are currently serving our country. The Falcons donated all proceeds from ticket sales to the Veterans Empowerment Organization (VEO) equaling more than $200,000.

"We are incredibly proud to be able to give back in such a meaningful way to help our military veterans and the fight against homelessness," Cannon said.