JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Throughout November, NFL teams are celebrating Salute to Service - a year-round initiative to honor military members, veterans, and their families. During the last 15 years, more than $73 million has been raised for charitable organizations that support the military community.
This year, Jaguars linebacker Devin Lloyd is the team’s nominee for the 2025 Salute to Service Award. For Lloyd, honoring the military is personal.
“My family and a lot of family friends have served in the military so it’s going to be special for them,” Devin Lloyd said. “This game is all around, they’re memorable for sure.”
Lloyd’s parents both served in the U.S. Navy. His mother, Ronyta Johnson, for 10 years as a data processor. His father, Joe Lloyd, served for 30 years as a communications officer and retired as a Chief Warrant Officer 4. Lloyd says military life shaped him early in his childhood.
“You think about a teenager who has to be responsible for himself,” Devin Lloyd said. ”So I remember when my dad was on deployment and I had to get up, and I had to ride my bike over a mile and a half to school and I never missed class. I was always on time, had a perfect attendance, made really good grades.”
“He’s definitely carried over what his father and I taught him and you know just being a good person, being a good teammate,” Ronyta Johnson said.
Lloyd’s commitment to the military community goes far beyond game day. He has visited many military bases and hosted free youth football camps for military families.
“His first pro camp, Devin Lloyd Kid’s Camp, I went to his rookie year and it was on NAS Jacksonville base and just to be on the base and I’m looking at the excitement in the kids eyes as you know, I was just in awe," Joe Lloyd said,
“In a lot of ways, I can relate to them and so for me I want to be an example of you can do whatever you want in life and if you want to play in the NFL, you can actually do it,” Devin Lloyd said.
This past summer, Lloyd and his father spent a week at Project Odyssey - a free Wounded Warriors Project program focused on mental health through outdoor challenges.
“It was a memory we will never forget,” Devin Lloyd said. “We had a really good time and just everything that we did out there. The people that we met, the experiences.”
“It was a wonderful experience to be around my fellow service members,” Joe Lloyd said. “We all are on the same team we all serve the same flag. To come together with brotherhood, sisterhood for the common cause of us making ourselves better, understanding the seriousness of mental health and people that’s going through a lot.”
When Lloyd steps on the gridiron, his parents say they see the values of military life carried into his career.
“As a parent, I can’t be more prouder,” Joe Lloyd said.
“I always told him if you’re going to do something, do your very best,” Ronyta Johnson said. “That’s all anyone can ever expect and always do the right thing.”
Sunday’s Salute to Service game will recognize and honor the brave men and women - just like Lloyd’s father and mother - who serve this country.
“I’m just appreciative for the sacrifice you make,” Devin Lloyd said. ”I understand firsthand how difficult it can be, especially on the families and to do that and serve people, it means a lot and hopefully we can put on a good show for you.”
The Jaguars are donating 300 tickets for military members and veterans to attend Sunday’s Salute to Service game against the Los Angeles Chargers.