Former Nfl Man of the Year Winners to Unite at Super Bowl Lii in Minnesota
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 1/9/18 FORMER NFL MAN OF THE YEAR WINNERS TO UNITE AT SUPER BOWL LII IN MINNESOTA Former Winners and Families to Come Together for Super Bowl Weekend Culminating in Special On-Field Pregame Recognition The legacy of former Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year winners will be recognized at Super Bowl LII in Minnesota, the NFL announced today. In honor of their excellence on and off the field, former Man of the Year winners – and family representatives of those who are no longer with us – will come together during Super Bowl weekend for a series of special events and programs. Prior to kickoff of Super Bowl LII, former winners will be recognized on-field, as a testament to their contributions to the game and to their communities. The Man of the Year legacy pregame moment will culminate with the introduction of the 2017 recipient. Players spanning generations who belong to the exceptional Man of the Year fraternity will be honored in Minnesota, including the family of the late Hall of Fame Chicago Bears running back WALTER PAYTON, Pro Football Hall of Famer and Pittsburgh Steelers Legend FRANCO HARRIS, Super Bowl Champions ELI and PEYTON MANNING, Pro Football Hall of Famer and Dallas Cowboys Legend ROGER STAUBACH and Pro Football Hall of Famer and San Diego Chargers Legend LADAINIAN TOMLINSON. A full list of past winners, which includes 28 members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, can be found below. “For the first time in NFL history, Man of the Year winners will come together on the NFL’s biggest stage,” said NFL Commissioner ROGER GOODELL. “The NFL is proud to host these remarkable leaders and recognize their impact on the community. From the family of the late Johnny Unitas to 2016 co-winners Larry Fitzgerald and Eli Manning, the most distinguished players on and off the field will share a platform in honor of their accomplishments.” An exclusive event for past winners and their families will kick off the weekend on Thursday, Feb. 1 and celebrate the legacy that Man of the Year winners have left on the game and in their communities. To further advance the legacy of Man of the Year winners and create impact in their communities, the event will also serve as a fundraiser for the NFL Foundation. Funds raised will be distributed among both the NFL Foundation and the nonprofit organizations supported by the Men of the Year. Considered the League’s most prestigious honor, the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award presented by Nationwide recognizes an NFL player for outstanding community service activities off the field as well as excellence on the field. The 32 nominees for the 2017 award were announced last month. Three of the nominees will be selected as finalists for the national award, renamed in 1999 after Walter Payton. Finalists will be announced later this month. The winner will be announced during NFL Honors, a two-hour primetime awards special to air nationally on Feb. 3, the eve of Super Bowl LII, at 9 PM (ET and PT) on NBC. NFL Honors will be taped earlier that evening at the Cyrus Northrop Memorial Auditorium at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. $500,000 dollars will be donated in the name of the 2017 winner. $250,000 will be donated to the winner’s charity of choice and $250,000 will be donated in his name to expand Character Playbook across the country. The two other finalists will each receive a $100,000 donation to their charity of choice and a $100,000 donation in their names to expand Character Playbook. All other 29 nominees will receive a $50,000 donation to their charity of choice and an additional $50,000 donation in their names to expand Character Playbook. All donations are courtesy of the NFL Foundation, Nationwide and United Way Worldwide. The Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year trophy silhouette began appearing in uniform elements this season to further recognize past award winners and current nominees. The five current players who have won the award - DREW BREES, THOMAS DAVIS, LARRY FITZGERALD, ELI MANNING and JASON WITTEN - will wear a Man of the Year patch on their jerseys in perpetuity to recognize their outstanding contributions to the game and to their communities. All 2017 nominees wore a Man of the Year helmet decal through the end of the season, in recognition of their accomplishments on and off the field. This tradition will continue for future nominees and winners of the award. Earlier this season, the NFL announced the Super Bowl Ticket Giveaway, a new initiative to surprise fans across the country with an invitation to attend Super Bowl LII in Minnesota. A total of 500 free tickets will be distributed under the program as a way to give back to dedicated NFL fans and provide them with a once-in-a- lifetime experience. Each of the 2017 Man of the Year nominees received two Super Bowl LII tickets to give away to fans and community heroes. For more information on the nominees and the award, visit NFL.com/manoftheyear. PAST WALTER PAYTON NFL MAN OF THE YEAR WINNERS YEAR WINNER TEAM 2016 Larry Fitzgerald Arizona Cardinals Eli Manning New York Giants 2015 Anquan Boldin San Francisco 49ers 2014 Thomas Davis Carolina Panthers 2013 Charles Tillman Chicago Bears 2012 Jason Witten Dallas Cowboys 2011 Matt Birk Baltimore Ravens 2010 Madieu Williams Minnesota Vikings 2009 Brian Waters Kansas City Chiefs 2008 Kurt Warner Arizona Cardinals 2007 Jason Taylor Miami Dolphins 2006 LaDainian Tomlinson San Diego Chargers Drew Brees New Orleans Saints 2005 Peyton Manning Indianapolis Colts 2004 Warrick Dunn Atlanta Falcons 2003 Will Shields Kansas City Chiefs 2002 Troy Vincent Philadelphia Eagles 2001 Jerome Bettis Pittsburgh Steelers 2000 Derrick Brooks Tampa Bay Buccaneers Jim Flanigan Green Bay Packers 1999 Cris Carter Minnesota Vikings 1998 Dan Marino Miami Dolphins 1997 Troy Aikman Dallas Cowboys 1996 Darrell Green Washington Redskins 1995 Boomer Esiason New York Jets 1994 Junior Seau San Diego Chargers 1993 Derrick Thomas Kansas City Chiefs 1992 John Elway Denver Broncos 1991 Anthony Munoz Cincinnati Bengals 1990 Mike Singletary Chicago Bears 1989 Warren Moon Houston Oilers 1988 Steve Largent Seattle Seahawks 1987 Dave Duerson Chicago Bears 1986 Reggie Williams Cincinnati Bengals 1985 Dwight Stephenson Miami Dolphins 1984 Marty Lyons New York Jets 1983 Rolf Benirschke San Diego Chargers 1982 Joe Theismann Washington Redskins 1981 Lynn Swann Pittsburgh Steelers 1980 Harold Carmichael Philadelphia Eagles 1979 Joe Greene Pittsburgh Steelers 1978 Roger Staubach Dallas Cowboys 1977 Walter Payton Chicago Bears 1976 Franco Harris Pittsburgh Steelers 1975 Ken Anderson Cincinnati Bengals 1974 George Blanda Oakland Raiders 1973 Len Dawson Kansas City Chiefs 1972 Willie Lanier Kansas City Chiefs 1971 John Hadl San Diego Chargers 1970 Johnny Unitas Baltimore Colts 1969 – Gladiator Award Bart Starr Green Bay Packers *The Gladiator Award was the precursor to the Man of the Year Award, which was established in 1970. # # # Media Contacts: Ana Blinder, NFL [email protected] .