Arik Armstead named Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year presented by Nationwide
Armstead, 31 other nominees celebrated as community champions
As the National Football League community gathered in The Big Easy just days ahead of Super Bowl LIX, Saints legend and favorite son of New Orleans Drew Brees took the stage at NFL Honors to bestow the league’s most prestigious award. Brees, a 2006 winner of the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, presented by Nationwide, announced Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Arik Armstead as the 2024 recipient of the award that celebrates the enduring legacy of the late, great Chicago Bears running back. Joining Brees in the presentation of the award was former Saints player, philanthropist and ALS advocate Steve Gleason.
The Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, presented by Nationwide, was established in 1970 and renamed in Payton’s honor in 1999. It recognizes an NFL player who excels both on the field and in service to his community. Armstead joins Brees and only 57 others in this exclusive fraternity. He becomes the second Jaguars player to receive the award, following Calais Campbell who won while with Jacksonville in 2019.
Driven by a desire to address educational inequities, Arik and his wife, Mindy, established The Armstead Academic Project (AAP) in 2019. AAP is dedicated to ensuring that every student, no matter their socioeconomic status, has direct access to the resources they need to thrive. Since its inception, Armstead has helped raise and personally donated more than $2 million to Jacksonville, Sacramento and Bay Area youth. Armstead was also a vocal advocate of the Literacy Bill, helping to pass statewide legislation in California mandating additional educational support for students who under-perform on statewide tests.
Armstead’s philanthropic work also extends to advocacy for financial literacy and food security. Earlier this season, Armstead worked with Duval County Public Schools in Jacksonville to emphasize the importance of financial literacy at a young age so that children can set themselves up for future success. He also works with Blessing in a Backpack, a local nonprofit that provides food on weekends and holidays for school-aged children experiencing food insecurity.
In recognition of his outstanding community contributions, Armstead will receive a donation of $265,000 to his chosen charity. Each of the other 31 nominees representing their respective NFL clubs will also receive a donation of up to $55,000 for their chosen charities. All donations are courtesy of the NFL Foundation and the Nationwide Foundation.
“Nationwide is honored to join the NFL community in congratulating Arik Armstead on being named the 2024 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year,” said Ramon Jones, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for Nationwide. “As a business that is committed to serving and strengthening our communities, we’re proud to support Arik’s extraordinary efforts that have empowered and uplifted countless children and families.”
Since becoming the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year presenting sponsor in 2014, Nationwide’s dedication to this platform has elevated one of the NFL’s most revered awards to a new level. As part of this commitment, Nationwide and the Nationwide Foundation have also donated more than $3.3 million to the charitable organizations represented by the nominees.
To learn more about Arik Armstead and the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, visit www.nfl.com/manoftheyear.