Super Bowl expected to break betting records in US with 68M adults set to wager
6 February 2024
LAS VEGAS (NEXSTAR) — In addition to competing in the Super Bowl, two-time league MVP Patrick Mahomes is hoping to win the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award. The winner will be announced on Thursday night during the “NFL Honors” program. Mahomes is one of 32 players vying for the honor.
“The biggest honor I could get is even being nominated for that award,” Mahomes said.
Jarrett Payton, the son of Walter Payton and an employee of WGN-TV, had a chance to ask the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback about what being nominated for the award means to him during the NFL’s opening night festivities on Monday.
“Your father’s award is the best award you can get in this league. It speaks to the person that you are every single day,” Mahomes said.
Each of the teams nominated one player for the prestigious honor named for the late Payton, a Hall of Fame running back for the Chicago Bears. The award recognizes a player for community service and excellence on the field. It has been given annually since 1970.
Mahomes will try to join the award’s namesake, Payton, and nine other players who have won both the NFL MVP and the NFL Man of the Year Award. The others who have pulled off that double are Kurt Warner, LaDainian Tomlinson, Peyton Manning, Dan Marino, Boomer Esiason, John Elway, Joe Theismann, Ken Anderson and Johnny Unitas.
All 32 nominees will receive a donation of up to $55,000 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 his choice. All donations are courtesy of the NFL Foundation and Nationwide.
Mahomes was nominated for his work with his foundation, 15 and the Mahomies Foundation, which has placed an emphasis on improving the lives of children with a continued focus on supporting health, wellness and various communities in need of resources. To date, more than $4 million in grants and programs have been distributed by the foundation.
In addition, Mahomes has donated $1.625 million as well $1,500 for every touchdown in the regular season to Boys and Girls Clubs of America in addition to his $1.625 million donation. He has also partnered with Make-A-Wish to grant the wishes of 10 children who have life-threatening illnesses.
“As a dad of two, it means the world to me to be able to provide opportunities and support to underserved youth, and my family and I are so humbled to be in the running for an award that means so much to the Chiefs organization and to our community,” Mahomes said in a statement. “It’s crazy to see the way 15 and the Mahomies has grown and continues to make more and more of a difference for kids here in Kansas City, across Texas and beyond.”
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott won the award last season. Among the other active players who have previously won the award are the Denver Broncos’ Russell Wilson and the Atlanta Falcons’ Calais Campbell.
The Associated Press contributed to this report