ATLANTA (Dec. 10, 2025) – Peach Bowl, Inc. CEO and President Gary Stokan has been selected as a recipient of the National Football Foundation (NFF) Legacy Awards, which was presented during the 67th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas on Dec. 9 at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino.

Established in 2007, the NFF Legacy Awards honor individuals and organizations who have made extraordinary contributions to the National Football Foundation and/or embody its mission. The award recognizes those who have consistently supported the NFF and championed the game of football as a platform to develop the next generation of great leaders.

Stokan has served as CEO and president of Peach Bowl, Inc. since 1998. Under his leadership, Peach Bowl, Inc. events have generated an economic impact of $1.53 billion and $96.7 million in direct government tax revenue for the city of Atlanta and the state of Georgia. The organization has also distributed more than $361.35 million in team payouts and donated $70.7 million to charitable causes – making Peach Bowl, Inc. the most charitable bowl organization in the country.

He was instrumental in securing the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl's position as one of the New Year's Six bowl games in the College Football Playoff and led the organization in signing long-term agreements with Mercedes-Benz Stadium and Chick-fil-A through 2025.

"Gary Stokan's vision and tenacity were instrumental in bringing the College Football Hall of Fame to Atlanta, where it continues to thrive as a world-class tribute to the game," said NFF President and CEO Steve Hatchell. "His work has had a lasting impact on how fans experience the history and pageantry of college football, and we are proud to honor his contributions with an NFF Legacy Award."

In 2008, he created the Aflac Kickoff Game, which has distributed $143.6 million in team payouts and sold out 17 of 23 games while establishing itself as the leader in season-opening games. He also founded the Southern Company Peach Bowl Challenge charity golf tournament, which has given $10 million to scholarship and charitable organizations since 2007. Combined, these accomplishments have helped earn Atlanta its label as the Capital of College Football.

Stokan has been ranked by the Atlanta Business Chronicle as one of Georgia's 30 Most Influential Sports Business Figures, one of the 100 Most Influential Atlantans, a top 50 leader in Atlanta hospitality and one of Atlanta's Most Admired CEOs. He is also a Georgia Titan 100 and a member of the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame, the Atlanta Hospitality Hall of Fame, the Atlanta Sports Hall of Fame and the Peach Bowl Hall of Fame.

Stokan is one of five individuals receiving the honor this year. The 2025 class also includes Norma Dean, director of specialty sales at Delta Air Lines; Steve Richardson, executive director of the Football Writers Association of America; Langston Rogers, special assistant to the athletics director for history at Ole Miss and C. Paul Rogers III, professor of law at SMU Dedman School of Law.