Around the NFL

2021 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year nominees unveiled

Published: Dec 07, 2021 at 08:48 AM

NFL.com

The NFL on Tuesday revealed the 32 nominees for the 2021 Walter Payton Man of the Year award -- the league's most prestigious honor.

The award was first established in 1970 and was renamed after the late Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton in 1999.

"The Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award is the League's most prestigious honor and these 32 men represent their many teammates who do incredible things in their communities," NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. "Their unwavering commitment to their hometowns and team communities embodies Walter's spirit of giving back in a way that makes us all incredibly proud of the work they are doing every day."

All 32 nominees will receive up to a $40,000 donation in their name to their charity of choice. The winner of the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award will receive a $250,000 donation to the charity of their choice. All donations are courtesy of the NFL Foundation and Nationwide.

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson won the award in 2020. The 2021 winner will be revealed during NFL Honors, which airs Thursday, Feb. 10 at 9 p.m. ET on ABC and simulcast on NFL Network.

Full list of nominees:

Arizona Cardinals: Kelvin Beachum
Atlanta Falcons: Mike Davis
Baltimore Ravens: Bradley Bozeman
Buffalo Bills: Harrison Phillips
Carolina Panthers: D.J. Moore
Chicago Bears: Jimmy Graham
Cincinnati Bengals: Sam Hubbard
Cleveland Browns: Denzel Ward
Dallas Cowboys: Dak Prescott
Denver Broncos: Justin Simmons
Detroit Lions: Jason Cabinda
Green Bay Packers: Aaron Jones
Houston Texans: Justin Reid
Indianapolis Colts: Kenny Moore II
Jacksonville Jaguars: Myles Jack
Kansas City Chiefs: Tyrann Mathieu
Las Vegas Raiders: Darren Waller
Los Angeles Chargers: Corey Linsley
Los Angeles Rams: Andrew Whitworth
Miami Dolphins: Jerome Baker
Minnesota Vikings: Anthony Barr
New England Patriots: Lawrence Guy
New Orleans Saints: Cameron Jordan
New York Giants: Logan Ryan
New York Jets: Quinnen Williams
Philadelphia Eagles: Jason Kelce
Pittsburgh Steelers: Cameron Heyward
San Francisco 49ers: Arik Armstead
Seattle Seahawks: Tyler Lockett
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Mike Evans
Tennessee Titans: Derrick Henry
Washington Football Team: Jonathan Allen

Each of these players support many different causes, ranging from social justice work, supporting veterans, fighting homelessness and more. For more information on the nominees and the award, visit NFL.com/manoftheyear.

Related Content

news

Nick Chubb plows for 2 TDs to key Browns win in his first game vs. Steelers since season-ending injury

Nick Chubb plowed to two touchdowns to help his Cleveland Browns to a 24-19 triumph over the Pittsburgh Steelers that won't soon be forgotten, for the drama amid a frosty setting and the quiet running back's storybook contributions.

news

Steelers-Browns on 'Thursday Night Football': What We Learned from Cleveland's 24-19 win

Though it's still the autumn, the Browns emerged from a winter wonderland with an 24-19 upset over the Steelers on Thursday night. Here's What We Learned from Cleveland's victory.

news

Week 12 Thursday inactives: Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns

The official inactives for Week 12 Thursday Night Football: Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns

news

Kevin Stefanski expected to remain as Browns head coach in 2025

Kevin Stefanski is expected to remain as Browns head coach in 2025, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported on Thursday's edition of The Insiders.

news

Seahawks still without power at facility after bomb cyclone, 'gotta man up' with cold showers

After losing power following a major "bomb cyclone" storm Tuesday night, the Seattle Seahawks' team facility remains affected by the outage on Thursday.

news

Daniel Jones 'grateful' for opportunity as Giants starting QB in first comments since benching

With the dust beginning to settle on the Giants' change at QB, Daniel Jones, now relegated to third-string backup duty after nearly six seasons at the helm, spoke to the media Thursday for the first time since his demotion this week.

news

NFL news roundup: Latest league updates from Thursday, Nov. 21

NFL.com keeps you up to date with all of the latest league news from around the NFL. Visit NFL.com's transaction hub for a daily breakdown.

news

Dak Prescott says it's painful watching Cowboys struggle without him: 'Probably been as tough of a season as I've ever had'

Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott, who's out for the season due to a hamstring injury, described how tough it's been watching his team struggle from the sideline.

news

Jordan Love admits playoff loss to 49ers has Packers 'hungry' for Week 12 rematch

Green Bay Packers QB Jordan Love had all offseason to reflect on last season's playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers, and he certainly hasn't forgotten how that defeat made him feel ahead of Sunday's rematch.

news

Caleb Williams finds positives in Bears' narrow loss to Packers: 'Efficient football'

The Bears lost their fourth straight game Sunday, dropping them to 4-6, but there were some positives in the defeat, particularly regarding Caleb Williams, Thomas Brown and Chicago's more efficient offense.

news

Chargers' Jim Harbaugh downplays matchup with brother, Ravens ahead of Monday night showdown

Don't try to make Monday's game about Jim and John Harbaugh. The Chargers coach certainly wasn't interested in feeding the narrative when asked repeatedly about his meeting with his brother, the longtime Baltimore coach.

news

Niners QB Brock Purdy (shoulder) limited in practice; TE George Kittle (hamstring) says he'll be playing vs. Packers

In their first practice of the week, 49ers QB Brock Purdy (shoulder soreness) was limited, while TE George Kittle (hamstring) said he'll be playing vs. the Packers after missing Week 11.