Updates

The NFL announced the 32 nominees for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award. Representing the NFL's commitment to philanthropy and community impact, each player was selected as his team's Man of the Year and is now eligible to win the award. Considered the league's most prestigious honor, the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award recognizes an NFL player for outstanding community service activities off the field, as well as excellence on the field. First established in 1970, the national award was renamed in 1999 after the late Hall of Fame Chicago Bears running back Walter Payton.

"We are proud to present the nominees for this year's Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, the league's most prestigious honor," said Roger Goodell, NFL Commissioner. "These 32 men are recognized for their excellence on the field and the selfless work they do off the field in their hometowns and local team communities. Collectively, they represent Walter's humanitarian spirit of giving back in ways that makes us all incredibly proud."

All 32 team winners will be highlighted as nominees and recognized for their important work during the week leading up to Super Bowl LVII. The 2022 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year winner will be announced during NFL Honors, a primetime awards special to air nationally the Thursday before Super Bowl LVII on NBC.

All 32 nominees will receive up to a $40,000 donation in their name to their charity of choice, while the winner of the award will receive up to a $250,000 donation to the charity of their choice.

Fans are encouraged to participate in Nationwide's 8^th annual Charity Challenge, a social media campaign designed to support and promote team nominees. Fans can vote on Twitter by using #WPMOYChallenge followed by their favorite nominee's last name or his Twitter handle anywhere within the tweet. The player whose unique mention is used the most from December 6 through January 8 will receive a $25,000 contribution to their charity of choice, while the second- and third-place finishers will receive $10,000 and $5,000 donations, respectively. Hashtag information and official rules can be found at nfl.com/manoftheyear.  

Beginning in 2017, the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year trophy silhouette came to life in uniform elements to further recognize past award winners and current nominees. The three current players who have won the award — J.J. Watt, Calais Campbell and Russell Wilson — continue to wear a Man of the Year patch on their jerseys to recognize their outstanding contributions to the game and to their communities. All 2022 nominees will wear a Man of the Year helmet decal beginning in Week 14 and continuing through the end of the season in recognition of their accomplishments on and off the field.

Each of these players supports many different causes, ranging from social justice work, supporting veterans, fighting homelessness and more.

Below is a list of the 2022 nominees: