Sports
Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Nominees Includes Buccaneers Mike Evans, Jaguars Arik Armstead, and Dolphins Alec Ingold
NEW YORK CITY, NY. (FNN) – The NFL has announced the 32 nominees for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award presented by Nationwide, its most prestigious honor that celebrates players who excel on the field and positively impact their communities.
“This award is the league’s most prestigious honor, and we are proud to recognize these 32 outstanding men for the positive impact they make in their communities every day,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.
Key Points About the Award and Event:
- Award Significance: Honors both on-field excellence and off-field community service.
- History: Renamed in 1999 after Hall of Fame legend Walter Payton.
- Winner Announcement: Feb. 6, 2025, during the NFL Honors broadcast on FOX and NFL Network.
- Nominee Recognition: Each nominee will receive up to $55,000 for their charity, while the winner will receive $265,000.
This Year’s Nominees and Causes
Notable Nominees:
- Mike Evans (Tampa Bay Buccaneers): Renowned for his contributions to underserved youth and families.
- Travis Kelce (Kansas City Chiefs): Advocates for education and equal opportunities.
- Brandon Graham (Philadelphia Eagles): Focuses on empowering communities with essential resources.
Nominees support causes such as:
- Youth empowerment and healthy living.
- Underserved community upliftment.
- Educational initiatives.
Below is a list of this year’s nominees:
| TEAM | NOMINEE |
| Arizona Cardinals | Trey McBride |
| Atlanta Falcons | Grady Jarrett |
| Baltimore Ravens | Roquan Smith |
| Buffalo Bills | Dion Dawkins |
| Carolina Panthers | Adam Thielen |
| Chicago Bears | Andrew Billings |
| Cincinnati Bengals | Orlando Brown Jr. |
| Cleveland Browns | Denzel Ward |
| Dallas Cowboys | Zack Martin |
| Denver Broncos | Alex Singleton |
| Detroit Lions | Jared Goff |
| Green Bay Packers | Kenny Clark |
| Houston Texans | Jalen Pitre |
| Indianapolis Colts | Kenny Moore II |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | Arik Armstead |
| Kansas City Chiefs | Travis Kelce |
| Las Vegas Raiders | Maxx Crosby |
| Los Angeles Chargers | Cameron Dicker |
| Los Angeles Rams | Kyren Williams |
| Miami Dolphins | Alec Ingold |
| Minnesota Vikings | C.J. Ham |
| New England Patriots | Deatrich Wise Jr. |
| New Orleans Saints | Cameron Jordan |
| New York Giants | Darius Slayton |
| New York Jets | Solomon Thomas |
| Philadelphia Eagles | Brandon Graham |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | Larry Ogunjobi |
| San Francisco 49ers | Curtis Robinson |
| Seattle Seahawks | Uchenna Nwosu |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Mike Evans |
| Tennessee Titans | Jeffery Simmons |
| Washington Commanders | Bobby Wagner |
All 32 nominees will be recognized for their achievements during the week leading up to Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans. The winner of the 2024 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award presented by Nationwide will be announced during NFL Honors, a primetime awards special to air nationally on FOX and the NFL Network on Thursday, Feb. 6.
This year’s nominees support myriad causes and initiatives off the field that are important to them and their communities, including empowering youth to lead healthy lifestyles, uplifting underserved communities and many other notable efforts. Each nominee will receive up to $55,000 and the award winner will receive up to a $265,000 donation to their charity of choice. All donations are made possible by the NFL Foundation and Nationwide Foundation.
“Charity Challenge: Vote for Your 2024 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Favorite”
Fan Engagement Through Charity Challenge
Fans can participate in the Nationwide Charity Challenge to support their favorite nominees:
- Voting Methods: Use #WPMOYChallenge + nominee’s last name on social media or vote at NFL.com/ManOfTheYear.
- Timeline: Dec. 5 – Jan. 6, 2025.
- Rewards: The player with the most votes earns an extra $35,000 donation to their charity.
“As presenting sponsor, Nationwide is proud to support these remarkable men and amplify their causes,” said Ramon Jones, Executive VP and CMO at Nationwide.
New Highlights for 2024
- Helmet Decals and Stadium Recognition: Starting Week 14, nominees will wear special decals, and select stadiums will feature award-themed decorations.
- ESPN Special: A new one-hour feature by NFL, Nationwide, and Omaha Productions will air on Dec. 24 at 6 p.m. ET, showcasing nominees’ community contributions.
Award Impact
- Encourages players to engage in community service.
- Builds strong player-community relationships.
- Long-lasting influence: Players like Dak Prescott and Russell Wilson continue to set examples as past winners.
The Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award remains a beacon of inspiration, honoring the heart, dedication, and community focus that define the NFL’s best.
__________________________________________________________________________
J Willie David, III
Florida National News and FNN News Network
sports@FloridaNationalNews.com
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Orlando Magic Expand ThreatLocker Partnership With Warmup Branding, Cybersecurity Campaign
Orlando Magic, ThreatLocker Add Cybersecurity Awareness Campaign and Courtside Branding
ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) — The Orlando Magic and Orlando-based cybersecurity company ThreatLocker have expanded their partnership to include player warmup branding, courtside signage and a cybersecurity awareness campaign, the team announced Oct. 21.
ThreatLocker’s branding will appear on the Magic’s player warmup shirts for all home and away games, as well as front-row courtside seatback covers at Kia Center.
Campaign to Share Online Safety Tips
Timed to coincide with Cybersecurity Awareness Month in October, the awareness campaign includes an opening-night commercial featuring ThreatLocker CEO and co-founder Danny Jenkins.
The spot will offer tips to help fans and Orlando-area residents protect themselves online, according to the announcement.
“As a Magic Champion of the Community partner since 2023, ThreatLocker has demonstrated a strong commitment to the local community,” Magic President of Business Operations Charlie Freeman said. “We’re excited to help raise cybersecurity awareness and continue growing their brand and our collective community impact.”
Branding Extends Across Games and Broadcasts
The agreement also includes a season-long commercial campaign and a custom-branded broadcast feature. ThreatLocker will receive exposure through MagicTV 27 in Central Florida and the team’s regional over-the-air broadcast network.
Warmup shirt branding will give the company visibility during pregame activities, player-focused content and game broadcasts, according to the announcement.
“We’re delighted that this partnership will help fans stay safe online,” Jenkins said. “And with October being Cybersecurity Awareness Month, it’s a great opportunity to share a few simple steps everyone can take to better protect themselves and their families.”
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