Updates

The NFL announced that Arik Armstead of the Jacksonville Jaguars has been selected as the 2024 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year presented by Nationwide. This award is the league’s most prestigious honor, recognizing NFL players who excel on the field and demonstrate a steadfast commitment to creating a positive impact beyond the game. The announcement was revealed during NFL Honors presented by Invisalign, an annual primetime awards special that aired nationally on FOX and NFL Network.

“Arik’s leadership, dedication to his team, and commitment to his community truly embody Walter Payton’s enduring legacy of excellence on the field and compassion off it,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. “Since joining the league 10 years ago, Arik has made it his mission to empower youth by providing them with the resources and support they need to thrive. We are extremely proud to name Arik Armstead as our 2024 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year."

Throughout his 10-year career, Arik Armstead has established himself as a leader on and off the field. In 2024, Arik joined the Jacksonville Jaguars as an unrestricted free agent and immediately became an integral piece of the Jaguars defensive line in the locker room, on the field and in the community. Since joining the league as a first-round pick by the San Francisco 49ers, Armstead has appeared in over 130 games, recording 35.5 sacks and more than 300 tackles, including appearances in both Super Bowl LVIII and LIV with the 49ers.

Off the field, Arik is a proven leader in the Jacksonville, Sacramento Bay Area communities. Arik is a five-time Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year nominee and has been recognized by his peers and the media through several other off-field accolades, including the Perry/ Yonamine Unity Award winner, CBS Bay Area Jefferson Award, the Yours Humanly 2023 Leading with Heart Award, and the Boost Collaborative Conference's Excellence in Leadership Award.

Through his initiative the Armstead Academic Project (AAP), Arik directly engages with youth to ensure they have the resources and support needed to achieve their full potential. Since the inception of AAP in 2019, Arik has helped raise and personally donated more than $2 million to Jacksonville, Sacramento and Bay Area youth. Arik was also a vocal advocate of the Literacy Bill, helping to pass statewide legislation in California mandating additional educational support for students who under-perform on statewide tests. These considerable philanthropic efforts led to the City of Sacramento awarding him with a key to the city in 2023.

Since arriving in Jacksonville, Arik has been determined to expand his impact in the Northeast Florida community. Last fall, Arik and his wife Mindy donated $50,000 to the Department of Sound to create the first "Sound Mind" production workshop series, providing more than 60 local youth with opportunities to explore STEM education paths. The Armstead’s also donated $100,000 to Teach for America and Square Root Academy to help local youth meet literacy standards and explore educational opportunities in AI technology.

Arik has also continued to expand his reach in the Jacksonville community through his participation in the EverBank Touchdowns for Tomorrow program, which highlights the importance of financial literacy through on-field football drills. Earlier this season, Armstead joined EverBank staff and hundreds of kids from Duval County Public Schools to emphasize the importance of financial education at a young age and ensure they are setting themselves up for future success. Arik also works with Blessing in a Backpack, a local nonprofit that provides food on weekends and holidays for school-aged children experiencing food insecurity.

As part of Arik’s recognition, he will receive a $265,000 donation to the charity of his choice. All donations are made possible by the NFL Foundation and Nationwide Foundation.

Prior to the kickoff of Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on Sunday, February 9, all 32 Man of the Year nominees – each of whom were recognized as their respective Club Man of the Year winners – will be honored on-field for their contributions to the game and their communities.

To learn more about this year’s Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year nominees, please visit: www.nfl.com/honors/man-of-the-year/.