The Walter Payton man of the year award is one of the most honourabe award a player can achieve. It recognises the players who standout in the field as well as make an impact in their communities. The award is named after Walton Payton who was a football player and is in everyone’s heart because of his generous and kind nature. Each year, one player is chosen from a group of nominees who made an impact in the society and helped others.
Who was Walter Payton?
An American professional football player who is known as one of the greatest player in NFL history. He was born on July 25, 1954 in Columbia, Mississippi. 13 -season career with the Chicago Bears made Payton rise to fame during 1975 to 1987. He was considered to be a very sweet person because of his graceful and outgoing personality. He started his career with College Football where he played for The Jackson State University, where he proved himself to be a great athlete and also earned All American honors. He quickly became the cornerstone of the Bears’ offense. He amassed 16,726 rushing yards over his career in the NFL. He played a very important role in the Chicago Bears victory in the Super Bowl. His legacy was more than just a football player, he contributed a lot for the society by helping underprivileged communities and children. His spirit led to the renaming of the NFL Man of the Award in his honor in 1999. Unfortunately, he passed away that year because of bile duct cancer and his death affected his fans as they were mourning. His legacy is carried on by his fans and the athletes and is considered an idol figure.
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What is the NFL man of the year award?
The NFL man of the year, also known as Walter Payton NFL Man of the year award, is one of the most prestigious awards in the football industry. It recognises the players for the exceptional performance on the field as well as community service. The NFL Man of the year was established in the year 1970 but it was renamed in honor of Walton Payton in 1999.
Benefits Of the award
There are several benefits which the winner gets like $250,00 dollars for the charity and even the nominees get $40,000 donation for their charity work. The winner is announced at the NFL Honors ceremony during the Super Bowl week. The player who wins gets a special patch on their jersey which they wear for the rest of their career, carrying the honor. In 2023, Cameron Heyward won the award for his contribution towards fighting for childhood hunger and promoting literacy.
The selection process for the award
There is one player in the total of every 32 teams. They are selected based on community services, leadership and effort they give back to the team in which they play. Judges will look at the program in which they lead, how heavily involved each one is and what sustainability their charity brings to society. The finalists will be selected by a panel of NFL executives, former players and community leaders. It means a lot to society, they ensure the right person gets it. The winner is then revealed during the week of the Super Bowl.
Players support for each other
All the players support each other’s charitable efforts publicly as well as privately. They attend the events and promote each other’s causes on social media apps like facebook, twitter and Instagram. Many players also help in the fundraising for the charity. Cameron Heyward and Dion Dawkins have spoken about how they received the support and love from their teammates as well as other nominees which motivated them to do more for their communities and foster a better environment.
Celebrities reaction on NFL Man of the year Award
The NBA star LeBron James has frequently come out in support of NFL players working in their communities. That matches the mood of this award because he gets into all his foundations and preaches about them to hell using their platform for social good.In the past, Dwayne Johnson, a former wrestler, indeed praised the NFL players for their charity work many times.
Nominees for this year
These are the few nominees for this year-
- Travis Kelce (Kansas City Chiefs)
- Maxx Krosby (Las Vegas Raiders)
- Roquan Smith (Baltimore Ravens)
- Dion Dawkins (Buffalo Bills0
- Jared Goff (Detroit Lions)
- Brandon Graham (Philadelphia Evils)
- Cameron Jordan (New Orleans Saints)
- Alec Ingold (Miami Dolphin)
- Bobby Wagner (Washington Commanders)
- Jonathan Taylor (IndianapolisColts)
- Kenny Moore II (Indianapolis Colts)
Conclusion
The Walton Payton NFL Man of the year is a testament to the players who bring significant changes for the society and also help their team score goals and win. Each year, the nominees showcase that they can bring positive change in the society and work for the betterment of the society. The legacy of Walter Payton keeps inspiring the players and the fans proving that sports can serve as a platform for greater goods.
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FAQ
- What is the Walter Payton NFL Man of the year award?
Man of the year award is given to the NFL players who support the charitable work and contribute to it.
- Why is the award named after Walter Payton?
Walter Payton is known for his generosity and kindness towards everyone and specially because of his contribution for the underprivileged and thats why the award was renamed after his death and honored him.
- When is the Walter Payton Man of the year announced?
It is announced at the conference held by the NFL during the week of the Super bowl.
