Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan finalist for Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award

Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan is one of eight finalists for the NFL’s 2021 Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award, it was announced by the league today. The award is presented each year to a player who best demonstrates the qualities of on-field sportsmanship, including fair play, respect for the game and opponents, and integrity in competition.

On the field of play this season, Jordan has not been penalized, while he has excelled in earning his seventh Pro Bowl selection, the most by a Saints defender. Jordan is finalist for the award in a season where he is a first-time nominee for the honor that was created in honor of the late founding owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pro Football Hall of Famer Art Rooney Jr. QB Drew Brees was the 2018 league award winner.

This is Jordan’s seventh Pro Bowl, the most selections for a defensive player in club history, surpassing Pro Football Hall of Fame LB Rickey Jackson’s six. In 14 games, all starts, Jordan has recorded 48 tackles (31 solo) to lead the defensive line, a club-best eight sacks for a loss of 46 yards, four passes defensed and two forced fumbles to tie for the team lead.

The team’s first round pick (24th overall) out of the University of California in 2011, Jordan is coming off back-to-back performances of two sacks apiece to reach 102.5 for his career, tied for 31st in NFL records. Jordan is also the team’s nominee for the National Football League’s Walter Payton Man of the Year Award.

In 11 seasons, Jordan has appeared in 174 games with 173 starts. He missed his first career game on December 12, while on the Reserve-Covid-19 list, snapping his streak of 172 consecutive appearances, what was the longest total by a position player and 171 straight starts, which was also the longest in the league among all players.

The Chandler, Az. native has posted career totals of 656 tackles (412 solo), 102.5 sacks for losses of 674.5 yards, two interception returns for six yards, 56 passes defensed, 13 forced fumbles and ten recoveries. His takedown total is ranked second in club record books behind Jackson, as well as his 24 multiple sack games.

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EIGHT FINALISTS ANNOUNCED FOR 2021 ART ROONEY SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD WINNER TO BE REVEALED AS PART OF NFL HONORS

The eight finalists for the 2021 ART ROONEY SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD have been named, the NFL announced today. The award is presented each year to an NFL player who best demonstrates the qualities of on-field sportsmanship, including fair play, respect for the game and opponents, and integrity in competition.

The finalists, featuring four players from each conference, are quarterback JOSH ALLEN (Buffalo), wide receiver BRANDIN COOKS (Houston), defensive back JASON McCOURTY (Miami) and wide receiver MATTHEW SLATER (New England) in the AFC, and linebacker LAVONTE DAVID (Tampa Bay), defensive end CAMERON JORDAN (New Orleans), fullback KYLE JUSZCZYK (San Francisco) and wide receiver ADAM THIELEN (Minnesota) in the NFC.

A panel of former players from the NFL Legends Community selected the eight finalists from the 32 NFL club nominees. The panel is comprised of WARRICK DUNN, LARRY FITZGERALD, CURTIS MARTIN and LEONARD WHEELER. The eight finalists were listed on the Pro Bowl ballot under the NFL Sportsmanship Award category.

“I’ve had the honor of competing with many of the nominees on the list,” said FITZGERALD. “More importantly, I’ve had the blessing of knowing and building relationships with several of them off the field. The legacy of Mr. Rooney lives on through these men. They represent teamwork, competitiveness, hard work, optimism, and integrity. Congratulations to each of the nominees for this year’s Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award.”

The award was created in 2014 in honor of the late founding owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pro Football Hall of Famer ART ROONEY, SR.

2021 ART ROONEY SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD FINALISTS

QB Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills, AFC
WR Brandin Cooks, Houston Texans, AFC
LB Lavonte David, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, NFC
DB Jason McCourty, Miami Dolphins, AFC
DE Cameron Jordan, New Orleans Saints, NFC
FB Kyle Juszczyk, San Francisco 49ers, NFC
WR Matthew Slater, New England Patriots, AFC
WR Adam Thielen, Minnesota Vikings, NFC

Slater is a finalist for the third consecutive year and fourth time overall while this marks Juszczyk’s second-straight season as a finalist. David has been nominated for the award in each of the past four seasons. Allen, Cooks, McCourty, Jordan and Thielen are all first-time nominees in 2021.

The winner of the NFL Sportsmanship Award is determined by a vote of current NFL players. From the eight finalists, each team’s players submitted a consensus vote of their choice for the winner. As in Pro Bowl voting, a team cannot vote for its own player.