Some of the greatest players in Chiefs history have won the NFL’s Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. If a Chiefs player wins it this year, it will be Patrick Mahomes. He’s the team’s nominee for one of the NFL’s top honors.
The Walter Payton Man of the Year Award recognizes a player for outstanding community service activities and on-field excellence. Each NFL team nominates one candidate, and this is the second straight year that the Chiefs have nominated Mahomes. “It’s amazing, the group, the fraternity of guys who have come before me that have won that award,” Mahomes said. “And how much it means to give back to a community and be a part of this community that’s given so much to us. It truly is an honor.” Mahomes established his foundation, 15 and Mahomies, in 2019 to focus on improving the lives of children. More than $4 million in grants and and programs have been distributed by the foundation. This year, the foundation has partnered with Boys and Girls Clubs of America. Mahomes has also partnered this year with other causes, such as: Make-A-Wish, granting the wishes of 10 children with life-threatening illnesses; Read for 15, a youth reading challenge; and Volunteer for 15 to encourage volunteer hours for youth. The winner of the award will be announced during the annual NFL Honors show, scheduled for Feb. 8 at Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas. Each of the 32 Walter Payton Man of the Year Award nominees will receive a $55,000 donation in the player’s name, to the charity of his choice. For the winner, that figure will be $250,000. Former Chiefs winners of the Walter Payton Award include: Willie Lanier (1972), Len Dawson (1973), Derrick Thomas (1993), Will Shields (2003), Brian Waters (2009).
