The 2025 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award will spotlight the contributions of athletes in their communities. All 32 team winners will be celebrated during Super Bowl LX week in the Bay Area. The national winner will be revealed on February 5, 2025, during the NFL Honors event, a special awards ceremony.
Recognizing Community Impact
This year, each club winner will advocate for various causes, such as supporting underserved communities and promoting healthy lifestyles among youth. Teams’ charitable beneficiaries stand to receive donations of up to $40,000. The overall national winner’s chosen nonprofit can earn up to $250,000, with funding provided by the NFL Foundation and the Nationwide Foundation.
Charity Challenge Voting
Fans are encouraged to participate in Nationwide’s Charity Challenge. This contest allows fans to show support for their favorite club winners. Voting runs from December 4, 2025, to January 5, 2026.
- Vote on X/Twitter using #WPMOYChallenge and the player’s handle.
- Vote directly at NFL.com/ManOfTheYear.
- The player with the most votes will secure an additional $35,000 for their charity.
- Second and third place will receive $10,000 and $5,000, respectively.
“Nationwide is honored to celebrate the inspiring club winners of this year’s award,” stated Ann Bair, executive vice president and chief marketing officer at Nationwide. “We are proud to highlight their impactful work in the community.”
A Legacy of Excellence
Established in 1970 and renamed in 1999, the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award honors players who excel both on and off the field. To date, 58 players have received this prestigious recognition, including five current NFL stars:
- Arik Armstead (Jacksonville Jaguars)
- Cameron Heyward (Pittsburgh Steelers)
- Dak Prescott (Dallas Cowboys)
- Russell Wilson (New York Giants)
- Calais Campbell (Arizona Cardinals)
These players wear a special patch on their jerseys to acknowledge their significant contributions to the game and their communities.
Man of the Year Recognition Products
This season, club winners will sport a unique helmet decal as well as special goal post wraps featuring the NFL Man of the Year trophy silhouette. Additionally, Homage will release a Walter Payton-inspired “Gladiator” product, celebrating this year’s winners. Fans can enter to win a Gladiator t-shirt by sharing their community uplift stories at NFL.com/ManOfTheYear.
For the first time, fans can purchase Armstead’s jersey that includes the Gladiator patch. Limited quantities are available at NFLShop.com, Fanatics.com, and the Jaguars online store. Proceeds from the sale of these products will support player-backed nonprofit partners, as the NFL does not profit from these sales.
To explore the stories and contributions of all 32 players and learn more about the award, please visit El-Balad.
