Green Bay Packers linebacker Lukas Van Ness is the team’s nominee for the NFL’s Salute to Service Award.
The award recognizes NFL players, coaches, staff and alumni who demonstrate an exemplary commitment to honoring and supporting the military community.
Several Van Ness family members served in the military, including his grandfather, who retired as a lieutenant colonel after a 27-year career in the U.S. Army.
What did it mean for you to be nominated for the Salute to Service Award?
My grandpa, Donald Van Ness, served as a lieutenant colonel for 27 years. I’ve always believed that this platform we have, there’s a lot of brave men and women who are currently serving or who have served, and they put their lives on the line. They do a lot for us to enjoy and play this beautiful game. So, it’s an honor for me to have the ability to be nominated for this and really just a cool opportunity.
Have you talked to your grandfather about being nominated and what did he say?
I told him about it actually the other night, and he was tearing up about it, because the military means a lot to him. I think it’s cool, me being the oldest grandson in the family, showing my support. I think it means a lot to him that I care as much about it as I do.
I understand the family ties, but why is this so important to you? You’re busy. I’m sure he would understand if you didn’t have the time.
I think it also stems from I’ve been a part of three programs from high school to college and, obviously, now in the NFL, but coach (Kirk) Ferentz at Iowa was a big advocate and supporter of the military. We had a lot of speakers, and we also had a military appreciation game. It always brought a lot of awareness.
And also, I was just super interested in it. When I was going into college, some of my biggest offers were from the service academies. It was a route that I almost ended up going before I committed to Iowa. So, from a young age, I’ve always had a massive appreciation and interest in the military. And then as I kind of grow my platform and have the ability to get here in the NFL, I’ve wanted to continue that.
Army, Navy, Air Force, what would you have chosen?
I was looking at the Navy just because there was a guy a couple years older than me named Jackson Perkins, who had a pipeline to the naval academy. So, I was kind of leaning that route, but, obviously, happy that I ended up going to Iowa. But I always thought it would be a super cool thing if that didn’t work out.
Van Ness is team’s nominee for Salute to Service Award
