Bobby Wagner named 2025 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year presented by Nationwide
Wagner and 31 club winners celebrated for their commitment to community
Just three days before the Super Bowl LX clash between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks, the NFL community gathered at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco to award the league’s annual accolades during NFL Honors.
After recognizing numerous players and coaches for their on-field accomplishments, the primetime program concluded with the announcement of the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award presented by Nationwide. 2024 Man of the Year Arik Armstead had the honor of revealing Washington Commanders linebacker Bobby Wagner as the 2025 recipient.
The prestigious award that celebrates the enduring legacy of the late, great Chicago Bears running back was established in 1970 and posthumously renamed in Payton’s honor in 1999. It recognizes an NFL player who excels both on the field and in service to his community. Wagner becomes the third player from the Washington franchise to win the award, following Darrell Green (1996) and Joe Theismann (1982).
Wagner has leveraged his platform to uplift others through mentorship, youth empowerment, and health advocacy, transforming personal loss into purpose through initiatives like FAST54 and the Phenia Mae Fund, named in honor of his late mother. FAST54 and the Phenia Mae Fund have become central to his nationwide work in stroke awareness, education, and patient support—educating thousands while funding critical care, therapies, and emotional resources for families.
Wagner has also prioritized expanding opportunity for young people through his Tackle Everything Tech Tour, connecting high school and college students—particularly from underserved communities—with leaders in technology, entrepreneurship, and venture capital at organizations such as Amazon, Microsoft, and Andreessen Horowitz.
More recently, Wagner has deepened his impact in the Washington, D.C. area, launching a landmark 2025 partnership between the Phenia Mae Fund and Children’s National Hospital to support pediatric stroke care, research, and education, while personally engaging patients and creating memorable experiences for young survivors. These efforts, including the continued expansion of the Tech Tour with students from Prince George’s County and Howard University, reflect Wagner’s enduring commitment to creating access, awareness, and opportunity in the communities he serves.
In honor of Wagner’s outstanding philanthropic contributions, the charity of his choice will receive a donation of up to $250,000. In addition, the charitable beneficiaries designated by the other 31 club winners will each receive a donation of up to $40,000. All donations are courtesy of the NFL Foundation and the Nationwide Foundation.
“Nationwide is honored to congratulate Bobby Wagner and celebrate his dedication to improving the lives of others,” said Ann Bair, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Nationwide. “As a company that prides itself on being so much more than a business, Nationwide is proud to help showcase the transformative work Bobby and all of the club winners are doing in service to causes and communities around the league.”
Since becoming presenting sponsor of the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award 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 has donated more than $2.3 million to the charitable organizations represented by nominees and winners.
The Nationwide Foundation has donated $2 million to the NFL Foundation to further support the charitable beneficiaries designated by the Man of the Year nominees and winners.
To learn more about Bobby Wagner and the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, visit www.nfl.com/manoftheyear.