Why NFL coaches and personnel were wearing brown on the sidelines this week
Ava Hudson
Updated on April 03, 2026
Cardinals fans watching Sunday's game against the Cleveland Browns might have noticed a couple of TV camera shots of Arizona offensive coordinator Drew Petzing wearing a brown hoodie while calling plays on the sideline.
Petzing was one of several coaches and team personnel from both teams wearing brown, as part of the NFL's Salute to Service, a tribute to the U.S. military. Brown was the color all across the NFL for coaches, players and staff who chose to wear it.
"Salute to Service represents the NFL's unwavering dedication to honoring, empowering, and connecting with our nation's service members, veterans, and their families," it says on the NFL's Salute to Service web page.
The Salute to Service campaign coincides with Veterans Day in the U.S. It continues this week (Week 10) and through Week 11.
Cardinals outside linebacker Dennis Gardeck was announced on Nov. 1 as the team's nominee for the "Salute to Service Award presented by USAA." The award, presented annually by USAA and the NFL, honors a league member who demonstrates an exemplary commitment to honoring and supporting the military community.
Gardeck is set to join teammates Monday night when the Cardinals and SeatGeek host 30 survivors from the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) program at Hunkapi Horse Farm in Scottsdale, for an evening of equine therapy as part of the NFL’s Salute to Service.
The TAPS families and Cardinals representatives will ride and groom the horses and enjoy a meal together. Each participant from TAPS will receive an autographed helmet and a t-shirt to commemorate the special day.
TAPS provides compassionate care and comprehensive resources for the families of military members who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
Since 2011, the NFL has donated more than $66 million to its Salute to Service partners including TAPS. Through the partnership, more than 6,000 survivors who are part of TAPS have been able to participate in NFL events and honor their fallen loved ones.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Why were NFL coaches wearing brown during games?
