Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award - wikipedia Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award Walter Payton Man of the Year Given for Excellence off the field regarding an NFL player 's charity work. Location Varies Presented by National Football League History First award 1970 to Johnny Unitas Most recent J.J. Watt Website www.nfl.com/manoftheyear/ The Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award is presented annually by the National Football League ( NFL ) honoring a player 's volunteer and charity work, as well as his excellence on the field. Prior to 1999, it was called simply the NFL Man of the Year Award. Shortly after Chicago Bears running back Walter Payton died ( having been the 1977 recipient himself ), the award was renamed to honor his legacy as a humanitarian. Each year, a winner is selected from 32 nominees from the 32 different teams. A panel of judges, which includes the Commissioner of the NFL, Connie Payton ( widow of Walter Payton ), the previous year 's winner, and a number of former players select the winner of the award. The Man of the Year winner receives a $50,000 donation in his name to a charity of his choice. The other 31 finalists also receive donations in their name of $5,000 each to charities of their choice. The Chicago Bears and Kansas City Chiefs have had more winners of the award than any other team, with 5 winners each. Each winner who is currently active in the league, beginning in Week 14 of the 2017 season, has a patch on their uniforms. The currently active winners are : Drew Brees, Thomas Davis, Larry Fitzgerald, Eli Manning, J.J. Watt, and Jason Witten. The nominees of each team are given a helmet decal to wear for the remainder of the season. Winners Year Player Position Team Ref 1970 Johnny Unitas Quarterback Baltimore Colts 1971 Hadl, John John Hadl Quarterback San Diego Chargers 1972 Lanier, Willie Willie Lanier Linebacker Kansas City Chiefs 1973 Dawson, Len Len Dawson Quarterback Kansas City Chiefs Blanda, George George Blanda Quarterback Oakland Raiders Anderson, Ken Ken Anderson Quarterback Cincinnati Bengals 1976 Harris, Franco Franco Harris Running back Pittsburgh Steelers 1977 Payton, Walter Walter Payton Running back Chicago Bears 1978 Staubach, Roger Roger Staubach Quarterback Dallas Cowboys 1979 Greene, Joe Joe Greene Defensive Tackle Pittsburgh Steelers 1980 Carmichael, Harold Harold Carmichael Wide receiver Philadelphia Eagles 1981 Swann, Lynn Lynn Swann Wide receiver Pittsburgh Steelers 1982 Theismann, Joe Joe Theismann Quarterback Washington Redskins Benirschke, Rolf Rolf Benirschke Placekicker San Diego Chargers 1984 Lyons, Marty Marty Lyons Defensive tackle New York Jets 1985 Stephenson, Dwight Dwight Stephenson Center Miami Dolphins 1986 Williams, Reggie Reggie Williams Linebacker Cincinnati Bengals Duerson, Dave Dave Duerson Safety Chicago Bears Largent, Steve Steve Largent Wide receiver Seattle Seahawks Moon, Warren Warren Moon Quarterback Houston Oilers Singletary, Mike Mike Singletary Linebacker Chicago Bears 1991 Muñoz, Anthony Anthony Muñoz Offensive tackle Cincinnati Bengals Elway, John John Elway Quarterback Denver Broncos Thomas, Derrick Derrick Thomas Linebacker Kansas City Chiefs Seau, Junior Junior Seau Linebacker San Diego Chargers 1995 Esiason, Boomer Boomer Esiason Quarterback New York Jets Green, Darrell Darrell Green Cornerback Washington Redskins Aikman, Troy Troy Aikman Quarterback Dallas Cowboys 1998 Marino, Dan Dan Marino Quarterback Miami Dolphins 1999 Carter, Cris Cris Carter Wide receiver Minnesota Vikings 2000 Brooks, Derrick Derrick Brooks Linebacker Tampa Bay Buccaneers Flanigan, Jim Jim Flanigan Defensive tackle Chicago Bears Bettis, Jerome Jerome Bettis Running back Pittsburgh Steelers 2002 Vincent, Troy Troy Vincent Cornerback Philadelphia Eagles 2003 Shields, Will Will Shields Guard Kansas City Chiefs Dunn, Warrick Warrick Dunn Running back Atlanta Falcons 2005 Manning, Peyton Peyton Manning Quarterback Indianapolis Colts 2006 Brees, Drew Drew Brees Quarterback New Orleans Saints Tomlinson, LaDainian LaDainian Tomlinson Running back San Diego Chargers 2007 Taylor, Jason Jason Taylor Defensive end Miami Dolphins 2008 Warner, Kurt Kurt Warner Quarterback Arizona Cardinals 2009 Waters, Brian Brian Waters Guard Kansas City Chiefs Williams, Madieu Madieu Williams Safety Minnesota Vikings 2011 Birk, Matt Matt Birk Center Baltimore Ravens 2012 Witten, Jason Jason Witten Tight end Dallas Cowboys 2013 Tillman, Charles Charles Tillman Cornerback Chicago Bears 2014 Davis, Thomas Thomas Davis Linebacker Carolina Panthers 2015 Boldin, Anquan Anquan Boldin Wide receiver San Francisco 49ers 2016 Fitzgerald, Larry Larry Fitzgerald Wide receiver Arizona Cardinals Manning, Eli Eli Manning Quarterback New York Giants 2017 Watt, J.J. J.J. Watt Defensive end Houston Texans See also Walter Camp Man of the Year Walter Camp Distinguished American Award Walter Camp Alumni of the Year Amos Alonzo Stagg Award National Football Foundation Distinguished American Award National Football Foundation Gold Medal Winners Theodore Roosevelt Award `` Whizzer '' White NFL Man of the Year Award Athletes in Action / Bart Starr Award Laureus Sport for Good Award References General `` Previous Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year winners '' ( PDF ). National Football League. Retrieved November 12, 2016. Specific Jump up ^ http://www.nfl.com/manoftheyear Jump up ^ `` Johnny Unitas NFL & AFL Statistics ''. Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved February 7, 2011. Jump up ^ `` John Hadl NFL & AFL Statistics ''. Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved February 7, 2011. Jump up ^ `` Warner named Payton award winner ''. United Press International. February 1, 2009. Retrieved February 7, 2011. Jump up ^ `` Brian Waters named NFL Man of the Year ''. United Press International. February 7, 2010. Retrieved February 7, 2011. Jump up ^ Gardner, Tim ( February 6, 2011 ). `` Vikings ' Madieu Williams named Walter Payton Man of the Year ''. USA Today. Retrieved February 7, 2011. Jump up ^ Hagemann, Andie ( February 6, 2016 ). `` Anquan Boldin named Walter Payton Man of the Year ''. NFL.com. Retrieved February 7, 2016. ^ Jump up to : `` Fitzgerald, Eli both named Walter Payton Man of Year ''. NFL.com. February 4, 2017. National Football League awards and trophies Team Vince Lombardi Trophy Lamar Hunt Trophy ( AFC ) George Halas Trophy ( NFC ) Individual Most Valuable Player Coach of the Year Offensive Player of the Year Defensive Player of the Year Rookie of the Year Comeback Player of the Year Walter Payton Man of the Year `` Whizzer '' White Man of the Year Bert Bell Award Art Rooney Award Super Bowl MVP One - time only 75th Anniversary All - Time Team ( 1994 ) All - Decade Teams Annual presentation NFL Honors NFL Top 100 Awards organizations Kansas City Committee of 101 Maxwell Football Club National Football League Alumni Touchdown Club of Columbus Washington D.C. Touchdown Club Defunct Ed Thorp Memorial Trophy Brunswick - Balke Collender Cup NEA Defensive Player of the Year PFWA Defensive Player of the Year NEA Rookie of the Year UPI AFL - AFC Player of the Year UPI NFC Player of the Year UPI AFL - AFC Rookie of the Year UPI NFL - NFC Rookie of the Year NFL Honors Ceremonies 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 AP awards presented Most Valuable Player Coach of the Year Assistant Coach of the Year Offensive Player of the Year Defensive Player of the Year Offensive Rookie of the Year Defensive Rookie of the Year Comeback Player of the Year Other awards presented Walter Payton Man of the Year FedEx Air & Ground NFL Players of the Year Play of the Year Pepsi Rookie of the Year NFL.com Fantasy Player of the Year Salute to Service Award Don Shula High School Coach of the Year Greatness on the Road Award Deacon Jones Award Art Rooney Award Former awards presented Madden Most Valuable Protectors Award ( 2011 ) GMC Never Say Never Moment of the Year ( 2011 -- 14 ) Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Walter_Payton_NFL_Man_of_the_Year_Award&oldid=833099555 '' Categories : National Football League trophies and awards Walter Payton Lists of sportsmen Hidden categories : Use mdy dates from June 2013 Articles with hCards Talk About Wikipedia Deutsch Español Français Italiano Português Edit links This page was last edited on 29 March 2018, at 17 : 29. 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Question: who votes for the nfl man of the year
Answer: A panel of judges, which includes the Commissioner of the NFL, Connie Payton (widow of Walter Payton), the previous year's winner, and a number of former players