The 32 nominees for Nationwide’s Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award were revealed by the NFL today. The most coveted award in the league, the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award from Nationwide, honors NFL players who not only thrive on the field but also show a strong desire to make a good difference off the field.
“The Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award is the league’s most prestigious honor given annually to the player who best represents the greatness and compassion of Walter Payton on and off the field,” said Roger Goodell, commissioner of the NFL. We are honored to honor the unique talents and humanitarianism of these 32 extraordinary men who positively impact their communities on a daily basis.
A week before Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas, all 32 nominees will be honored for their accomplishments. The 2023 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award recipient will be revealed on Thursday, February 8 during NFL Honors, a primetime awards program that will broadcast nationwide on CBS.
Each nominee is in favor of a variety of off-field programs that are significant to them and their communities, such as encouraging young people to lead healthy lifestyles, providing assistance to veterans, and raising awareness of other causes that are dear to their hearts. A donation of $250,000 to the winner’s designated charity will be given to each candidate, up to a total of $55,000 for each nomination. Nationwide and the NFL Foundation are responsible for making all gifts possible.
Below is a list of this year’s nominees:
Fans are invited to participate in Nationwide’s annual Charity Challenge this year as well. Through social media and the internet, fans can support their preferred Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year nominee. Fans have two options for casting their votes: directly on NFL.com/ManOfTheYear, or on X (previously Twitter) by posting #WPMOYChallenge along with the last name and X handle of their preferred nominee. All legitimate votes on X must have the hashtag #WPMOYChallenge along with the nominee’s X handle or complete name in situations when multiple nominees have the same last name (for example, Justin Jones and Jonathan Jones).
The nominee who garners the most number of votes and hashtag mentions will get an additional $35,000 from Nationwide to be donated to their preferred charity. The runner-up will receive $10,000, and the third-place winner will receive $5,000. Voting for the Charity Challenge is open from December 5 until January 8.
Ramon Jones, EVP and Chief Marketing Officer of Nationwide, stated, “The Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award nominees continue to impress and inspire all of us year after year.” “It is an honor for Nationwide to play a role in showcasing and supporting the tremendous work that these community champions do in their team markets, hometowns and across the country.”
By taking part in the thrilling campaign by Alltroo, an online fundraising platform founded by former NFL tight end and three-time Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year nominee Kyle Rudolph, fans can further amplify their support for their favorite nominee. Fans may show their support for their favorite nominee through Alltroo by participating in an online fundraiser that is personalized for each player and offering a chance to win unique experiences and rewards like meet & greets, game tickets, sideline access, and more. One hundred percent of the money earned by Alltroo’s campaign will go directly toward the nominee’s preferred non-profit or charity, thanks to the sponsorship of Nationwide. Go to Alltroo.com for additional details.
The national award was first created in 1970 and was renamed in 1999 in honor of the late Walter Payton, a Chicago Bears icon and member of the Hall of Fame. Since then, this prestigious award has been given to 56 legends and players, including three active players: Russell Wilson of the Denver Broncos, Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys, and Calais Campbell of the Atlanta Falcons. Dak Prescott was named the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year in 2016. To honor their exceptional contributions to the game and their communities, each of these players sports a Man of the Year patch on their shirts for the duration of the season.
In honor of their achievements both on and off the field, each of this year’s nominees will also sport a unique Man of the Year helmet decal starting in Week 14 and running until the end of the season. Additionally, goal post coverings featuring the NFL Man of the Year trophy silhouette will be seen in some stadiums.
To find out more about the winners and the nominations, go to NFL.com/ManOfTheYear.
