For the fifth-consecutive season, Joe Staley has been selected as a nominee for the sixth annual Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award. The award was created in 2014 in honor of the late founding owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pro Football Hall of Famer Art Rooney, Sr.
The Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award is presented each year to an NFL player who best demonstrates the qualities of on-field sportsmanship, including fair play, respect for the game and opponents, and integrity in competition.
Each NFL team nominated one of its players for the award, which recognizes players around the league who exemplify outstanding sportsmanship on the field. A panel of former players from the NFL Legends Community – Warrick Dunn Pro Football Hall of Famer Curtis Martin, Karl Mecklenburg and Leonard Wheeler – will select eight finalists (four in the AFC and four in the NFC) from the 32 nominees. The eight finalists will be listed on the Pro Bowl ballot under the NFL Sportsmanship Award category when players vote on Friday, December 13.
The winner of the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award is determined by a vote of current NFL players. From the eight finalists, each team's players will submit a consensus vote of their choice for the winner. As in Pro Bowl voting, a team cannot vote for its own player.
Staley, 35, is in his 13th NFL season – all with the 49ers.
2019 Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award Nominees:
| Team | Player |
|---|---|
| Arizona Cardinals | C A.Q. Shipley |
| Atlanta Falcons | WR Julio Jones |
| Baltimore Ravens | QB Lamar Jackson |
| Buffalo Bills | LB Lorenzo Alexander |
| Carolina Panthers | RB Christian McCaffrey |
| Chicago Bears | DB Kyle Fuller |
| Cincinnati Bengals | DE Sam Hubbard |
| Cleveland Browns | RB Nick Chubb |
| Dallas Cowboys | CB Byron Jones |
| Denver Broncos | LB Von Miller |
| Detroit Lions | QB Matthew Stafford |
| Green Bay Packers | CB Tramon Williams |
| Houston Texans | QB Deshaun Watson |
| Indianapolis Colts | WR T.Y. Hilton |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | DL Calais Campbell |
| Kansas City Chiefs | QB Patrick Mahomes |
| Los Angeles Chargers | LB Thomas Davis Sr. |
| Los Angeles Rams | S Eric Weddle |
| Miami Dolphins | C Daniel Kilgore |
| Minnesota Vikings | DE Danielle Hunter |
| New England Patriots | WR Matthew Slater |
| New Orleans Saints | T Terron Armstead |
| New York Giants | DL Dalvin Tomlinson |
| New York Jets | DL Steve McLendon |
| Oakland Raiders | QB Derek Carr |
| Philadelphia Eagles | QB Carson Wentz |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | RB James Conner |
| San Francisco 49ers | T Joe Staley |
| Seattle Seahawks | LB K.J. Wright |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | LB Lavonte David |
| Tennessee Titans | C Ben Jones |
| Washington Redskins | RB Adrian Peterson |
