Seattle wideout Jermaine Kearse is one of 32 nominees for the NFL's second annual Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award. Each team nominated one of its players for the award which recognizes athletes who exemplify outstanding sportsmanship on the field, including fair play, respect for the game and opponents, and integrity in competition.
The award was created last season in honor of the late founding owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pro Football Hall of Famer Art Rooney, Sr. Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald was the award's inaugural recipient.
A panel of former players from the NFL Legends Community will help determine this year's winner, with Warrick Dunn, Curtis Martin, Karl Mecklenburg, and Leonard Wheeler selecting eight finalists from the 32 initial nominees. The eight NFL Sportsmanship Award finalists will be listed on the Pro Bowl ballot when current players vote on Dec. 18, when teams will submit a consensus vote for the award's winner.
Outside of Kearse, this year's Sportsmanship Award nominees include a few more players with Seahawks ties. Former Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, now with the Indianapolis Colts, and former Seahawks running back Justin Forsett, now with the Baltimore Ravens, are also up for the honor, as is Atlanta Falcons cornerback Desmond Trufant, the younger brother of former Seahawks cornerback Marcus Trufant.
The award's winner will be unveiled Saturday, Feb. 6 during the nationally televised "5th Annual NFL Honors" show set to take place the night before Super Bowl 50, when he'll receive a trophy and $25,000 donation to a charity of his choice.
2015 ART ROONEY SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD NOMINEES
TEAM
NOMINEE
Arizona Cardinals
DT Calais Campbell
Atlanta Falcons
CB Desmond Trufant
Baltimore Ravens
RB Justin Forsett
Buffalo Bills
QB Tyrod Taylor
Carolina Panthers
LB Luke Kuechly
Chicago Bears
RB Matt Forté
Cincinnati Bengals
LB Vinny Rey
Cleveland Browns
QB Josh McCown
Dallas Cowboys
LB Sean Lee
Denver Broncos
WR Demaryius Thomas
Detroit Lions
WR Calvin Johnson
Green Bay Packers
LB Julius Peppers
Houston Texans
T Duane Brown
Indianapolis Colts
QB Matt Hasselbeck
Jacksonville Jaguars
DT Sen'Derrick Marks
Kansas City Chiefs
LB Derrick Johnson
Miami Dolphins
DT Earl Mitchell
Minnesota Vikings
LB Chad Greenway
New England Patriots
T Nate Solder
New Orleans Saints
TE Benjamin Watson
New York Giants
RB Rashad Jennings
New York Jets
LB David Harris
Oakland Raiders
S Charles Woodson
Philadelphia Eagles
LB DeMeco Ryans
Pittsburgh Steelers
CB William Gay
San Diego Chargers
QB Philip Rivers
San Francisco 49ers
T Joe Staley
Seattle Seahawks
WR Jermaine Kearse
St. Louis Rams
DT Aaron Donald
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
DT Gerald McCoy
Tennessee Titans
CB Jason McCourty
Washington Redskins
RB Alfred Morris