In honor of Veterans Day, ESPN will once again recognize veterans and active members of the U.S. Armed Forces during its annual America’s Heroes Veterans Week tribute, a series of programming and initiatives across television, digital, radio, and social platforms from Nov. 6–14.
From exclusive storytelling and live broadcasts to features highlighting service, courage, and community, ESPN will continue its tradition of honoring those who serve and the families who support them.
“At Disney and ESPN, honoring veterans, active-duty service members and military families is about more than recognizing their service and sacrifice. It is about fostering a sense of belonging, creating meaningful opportunities and demonstrating our gratitude through action,” said Brian Iglesias, Vice President of ESPN Sports Marketing. “As a Marine veteran, this commitment is deeply personal to me. Through ESPN’s 2026 Veterans Week, we are proud to share powerful stories of service, celebrate our veteran colleagues and strengthen the programs that support veterans and military spouses as they pursue their next chapters.”
Many well-known athletes, coaches and celebrities will provide daily “shout outs” to members of the military within ESPN programming presented by USAA, including SportsCenter, live games and more. Some of the participants will include Nick Saban, Jason Kelce, Chris Paul, Dak Prescott, Aaron Judge, Christian McCaffrey, Shaquille O’Neal, Dawn Staley, Drew Brees and Jalen Hurts.
Other ESPN Veterans Week initiatives will include:
First Take Veterans Day coverage presented by USAA
- Senior writer Justin Tinsley spotlights the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen and their enduring impact at Tuskegee University through its Aviation Science program on Friday, Nov. 6.
SportsCenter Veterans Week Coverage
ESPN’s flagship news and information SportsCenter program will feature military-themed storytelling across multiple editions, including:
- SportsCenter Veterans Day Special presented by USAA – A 30-minute special airing Thursday, Nov. 12, at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN ahead of the Memphis at South Florida college football game (8 p.m. ET, ESPN).
- All editions of SportsCenter on Veterans Day will include special features and guests.
NFL Programming
ESPN’s NFL coverage will spotlight Veterans Week with special programming across Sunday NFL Countdown, Monday Night Countdown and Monday Night Football, honoring service members and their families through storytelling and in-studio engagement.
On Sunday, Nov. 8, Sunday NFL Countdown will air a Veterans Day–themed edition, featuring the premier Sunday NFL pregame show’s second-ever live studio audience comprised of veterans representing all branches of the military. Hosted by Mike Greenberg, alongside Randy Moss, Tedy Bruschi, Rex Ryan, Alex Smith, Adam Schefter, and Erin Dolan, the three-hour pregame show (10 a.m.–1 p.m. ET) will pay tribute to all who have served through special segments, interviews, and on-site recognition. Katie Feeney will also be on-site capturing Veterans Day-themed social content, extending the recognition across ESPN’s social platforms.
Throughout ESPN’s Week 9 Monday Night Football game between the Buffalo Bills and Minesota Vikings, fans will hear anecdotes and stories from players and coaches who have special ties to the holiday and video shoutouts from military members and veterans from all over the world supporting their NFL teams.
On Monday Night Countdown, Michelle Beisner-Buck will share the story of Vikings running back Aaron Jones’ recent meeting with a former Army Green Beret, continuing the show’s recognition of service members and their connections across the NFL.
NFL Network’s 2026 International Series slate culminates Sunday, Nov. 8, with the Atlanta Falcons-Cincinnati Bengals game in Madrid. The matchup is part of NFL Salute to Service week and will include a military salute from U.S. Naval Station Rota in Rota, Spain.
On Sunday, Nov. 15, soldiers from the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California, will join NFL Network’s NFL GameDay Morning alongside the show’s team on the studio’s football field to offer their picks for Week 10.
College Sports Coverage
Veterans Week will be recognized across ESPN’s college football and basketball coverage, with special vignettes and player features highlighting family legacies of service.
- College GameDay will feature Veterans Day storytelling on Saturday, Nov. 14, highlighting military service in the families of players and coaches, along with shoutouts from service members supporting their favorite teams.
- “Coach Whitt” – Reported by Jen Lada and airing on College GameDay and SEC Nation, the feature profiles Army veteran Rusty Whitt, Florida’s Director of Football Performance. Inspired to serve after September 11, 2001, Whitt enlisted a year later, leaving his career as a college strength coach. After six years in the Army, he returned to college football and now shares his experiences with the Gators.
- ESPN+ will stream the annual Secretaries’ Cup football game between the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy on Saturday, Nov. 14, 1 p.m. ET from Audi Field in Washington, D.C. The game will stream on the ESPN App with an applicable ESPN plan. ESPN and the two academies just renewed the media rights for the annual rivalry game through 2030.
- ACC Network and SEC Network will air America’s Heroes vignettes and other tributes featuring football and basketball coaches and athletes expressing their appreciation for veterans.
E60 Storytelling
ESPN television platforms will have multiple airings of the E60 documentary “Pat Tillman: Life. Death. Legacy.”
Nov. 6 would have been Pat Tillman’s 50th birthday. The former NFL defensive back turned Army Ranger died from friendly fire in Afghanistan and the E60 one-hour program includes reporting and interviews that shed light on Tillman’s fascinating and tragic story.
SC Featured Storytelling
ESPN’s Veterans Week programming will include an acclaimed feature film:
- SC Featured “The Return” – Pittsburgh Steelers legend and Vietnam veteran Rocky Bleier returns to the valley where he was wounded in Vietnam for the first time since that day in 1969.
ESPN Social, Radio & Digital
ESPN’s social teams will produce carousel content spotlighting current and former athletes with military ties and adapt ESPN-produced stories for social feeds, in addition to amplifying organic opportunities that arise during live game coverage.
ESPN Radio will air themed segments, interviews, and tributes throughout the week across its national studio lineup.
ESPN Corporate Citizenship
In recognition of the sacrifices our military service members and veterans have made, The Walt Disney Company and ESPN are committed to supporting organizations dedicated to those that have served in uniform.
Disney’s ongoing support of Student Veterans of America (SVA) is helping vets transition from military life to college and career through virtual career centers. Over the past decade, Disney and ESPN have played a pivotal role in SVA’s growth and impact through programs and support, including a recent donation for SVA’s new virtual career center. ESPN will spotlight members of SVA during College GameDay on Nov. 14.
ESPN also is continuing its partnership with Disabled American Veterans (DAV) to support veterans in finding careers, including sponsorship and engagement in career fairs and professional career development panels. Over the past four years, ESPN’s support of DAV career fairs has engaged over 14,000 active military, veterans and spouses, resulting in 10,000 interviews and 10,317 job offers made.
Thanks to our ESPN Salute BERG a credit roll will be displayed all week honoring those who have self-identified as veterans.
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