12/16: The NFF Goes To Army-Navy!

December 16, 2025

Good morning, football fans! The National Football Foundation was in Baltimore last weekend honoring the Army-Navy Game with the Distinguished American Award — check it out here!

If you missed the 67th NFF Annual Awards Dinner last week, you can watch the entire celebration by clicking here. If you missed the Hall of Fame press conference, you can watch it by clicking here.

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MORE PHOTOS FROM THE CELEBRATION OF THE YEAR IN LAS VEGAS!

In the latest episode of the Good in the Game Podcast, host LaVar Arrington sits down with the legend from Appalachian State, Armanti Edwards! The guys discuss App State's historic upset over Michigan in 2007, Armanti's career from college to the NFL and how he found his love for the game again in the CFL.

Paul Wiggin, a 2005 NFF College Football Hall of Fame inductee who dominated at Stanford from 1954–1956, passed away Dec. 12. The fourth-oldest living NFF Hall of Famer at the time of his passing, he was 91.

An imposing defensive tackle, Stanford's Wiggin owned the line of scrimmage for three years, twice earning First Team All-America honors. Also, a two-time All-Pacific Coast Conference pick, Wiggin was invited to participate in the East-West Shrine Game in 1956 and the Hula Bowl in 1957. He was named Stanford's Defensive Player of the Century in fan voting.

CLICK HERE to learn more about the life and legacy of Paul Wiggin

Mike White, who spent more than 40 seasons in coaching, including stints as the head coach at Cal, Illinois and with the Oakland Raiders, has passed away. He was 89.

Richard Bell, who played collegiately at Arkansas, spent time as the defensive coordinator at West Virginia, Texas Tech, South Carolina, Duke, East Carolina, Georgia, Navy and Air Force and spent the 1982 season as the head coach at South Carolina, has passed away. He was 88.

George Mira, who quarterbacked at the University of Miami before spending eight seasons in the NFL with four teams, has passed away. He was 83.

Rod Paige, who was the head coach at Jackson State from 1964-68 and Texas Southern from 1971-75 and later served as the United States Secretary of Education from 2001-05, has passed away. He was 92.

Jeff Thorne, who quarterbacked at Eastern Illinois and later became the head coach at North Central (Ill.) from 2015-2021, has passed away. He was 53.

Steve Taneyhill, a record-setting quarterback for South Carolina from 1992-95, has passed away. He was 52.

There are good things happening all over the game of football. The National Football Foundation has asked individuals to share an example of something they see happening within our sport that is good for the game. Here are their answers!

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“One thing I love seeing is that our alumni programs across the country are really strengthening. We see guys who struggle on their way out, so we are rallying together and we have way more programs than we had 10, 15 years ago. We have this giant fraternity, and guys are really helping other guys move forward in their lives.”

— Montee Ball, 2025 NFF College Football Hall of Fame inductee

January 19, 2026 — CFP National Championship at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida

January 29, 2026 — Announcement of the State Winners of the 2025-26 NFF National High School Academic Excellence Awards, Presented by the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation

February 5, 2026 — Announcement of 2025-26 Recipient of the NFF Hatchell Cup, Presented by Bob’s Steak & Chop House

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