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Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes nominated for 2023 Walter Payton Man of the Year
Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes is up for the NFL's most prestigious award for the second consecutive year.
The NFL has announced the players nominated by each of the 32 NFL teams for the 2023 Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. It's considered one of the highest annual honors awarded by the NFL, signifying both on-field excellence and a player's commitment toward "creating a lasting positive impact beyond the game."
“The Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award is the league's most prestigious honor given annually to the player who best represents the greatness and compassion of Walter Payton on and off the field," said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, via press release. “These 32 outstanding men are making a valuable difference in their communities every day and we are proud to celebrate their special gifts and humanitarianism."
Patrick Mahomes making an impact in his communities
Mahomes continues to display on-field excellence and serve his local communities. His 15 and the Mahomies Foundation just hosted their fourth annual Patrick Mahomes 15 and the Mahomies Foundation Gala in November, where funds were raised and grants were awarded to 19 different charitable organizations.
"It's such an honor to be nominated again by the Chiefs as the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year," Mahomes said, via Chiefs.com. "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. 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. We know there is still so much work to be done, and we're so grateful and humbled by the support that Chiefs Kingdom gives us and the foundation. It's truly an honor to represent my foundation, Chiefs Kingdom, my family as well as the Payton family and Hunt family."
Mahomes has made an extensive impact with his work in the community, including but not limited to his partnerships with the Boys and Girls Club of America, Make-A-Wish, and the SEAL Legacy Foundation. He's established numerous programs within the community, such as his "Read for 15" , "15 for 15" and "Volunteer for 15" campaigns.
"The Chiefs organization and the Kansas City community could not ask for a better leader on the field and representative off of it, which is why we are honored to once again announce Patrick Mahomes as the club's nominee for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award," Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt said, via Chiefs.com. "Patrick, along with his family and his foundation, truly exemplifies the characteristics that this award represents. Since his career began in 2017, he has demonstrated an ever-increasing commitment to bettering the communities around him. Patrick uses his platform to help those in need, and we feel that he is more than deserving of this high honor. We believe Patrick and his family will continue to impact and empower communities across the country for years to come."
The league will pay tribute to each of the 32 nominees ahead of Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas, Nevada. Each nominee will receive up to $55,000 from the NFL Foundation and Nationwide and the award winner will receive a $250,000 donation to the charity of his choice.
The winner of the 2023 Walter Payton Man of the Year Award will be announced on Thursday, Feb. 8 during the NFL Honors ceremony, which will air nationally on CBS this year.
Walter Payton Man of the Year Charity Challenge
Last season, Patrick Mahomes did not win Walter Payton Man of the Year, but Chiefs fans voted him as the winner of the annual charity challenge. Fans can vote on X (the app formerly known as Twitter) by posting #WPMOYChallenge along with the last name/X handle of their chosen nominee. They can also vote directly on NFL.com/ManOfTheYear.
If Mahomes receives the most collective hashtag mentions and votes, he will win an additional $35,000 donation from Nationwide, with the runner-up receiving $10,000 and the third-place winner receiving $5,000. This voting opens today, Tuesday, Dec. 5 and concludes on Tuesday, Jan. 8.
