Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly was selected as the winner of the 2017 Art Rooney Sr. Sportsmanship Award, presented to a player for his outstanding sportsmanship on the field. The award was created in 2014 and named after Art Rooney Sr., the Steelers' founder.
"Art Rooney is an iconic figure in NFL history," said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell at the time the award was introduced. "It is appropriate that we honor his legacy in this way and recognize NFL players for one of the important values that Mr. Rooney represented so well."
Each team nominated one player, and eight finalists were selected by members of the NFL Legends Community, which includes Warrick Dunn, Curtis Martin, Karl Mecklenburg, and Leonard Wheeler. The final vote was part of the 2018 Pro Bowl ballot voted on by players league-wide.
Kuechly was announced as the winner at the NFL Honors awards show in Minneapolis. He will receive a $25,000 donation from the NFL Foundation to the charity of his choice, and also received "The Art Rooney Trophy," which represents the role that sportsmanship plays in the game and that those who demonstrate integrity and honor on the field are role models for other players.
Cameron Heyward was the Steelers' 2017 nominee for the award.
