THE APEX TIMES
The club will put its head team orthopedist, a veteran of U.S. Air Force medical leadership, forward as New Orleans looks to highlight military service through the league’s Salute to Service program.
The New Orleans Saints announced that Dr. W. Stephen Choate, the club’s head team orthopedist and a sports medicine specialist at Ochsner Sports Medicine Institute, has been selected as the Saints’ nominee for the 2026 NFL Salute to Service Award presented by USAA.
The Saints said the award recognizes members of the NFL community for a sustained commitment to honoring and supporting the military community.
According to the team, Dr. Choate is in his ninth season with New Orleans and brings what the Saints describe as a military and medical background that shaped his approach to serving “warrior athletes.”
The Saints’ announcement states that, before joining the team, Dr. Choate served four years in the United States Air Force, reaching the rank of Major and deploying overseas in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
The team also said Dr. Choate served as chief of the orthopedic department and medical director of surgical services for the 56th Medical Group, where he oversaw care for military personnel and their families, and received the Air Force Commendation Medal for meritorious service.
The Saints reported that finalists for the 2026 Salute to Service Award will be announced in January and the recipient will be recognized during NFL Honors in February.
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