The Walter Payton Award is the most prestigious award given to players. However, when the Walter Payton Award is given is a big concern for many novice players or fans.
So, without further ado let’s dig in and find out when is the Walter Payton Award Given and who were the previous winners of it.
What Is the Walter Payton Award?
Walter Payton’s Man of the Year award is one of the most prestigious and honorable awards given to players. It was first presented in 1970 to honor and credit players for their on- and off-field outstanding performances. Before 1999, it was simply named the NFL Man of the Year Award.
The award trophy was designed in 1969 by the artist Daniel Bennett Schwartz. The trophy does not symbolize a specific person. It is given as in respect and contribution of any player in any team whether he is in the spotlight or not. The winner is awarded due to his outstanding contribution and awareness of the community of any aspect close to his heart.
Annually, 32 players from different teams are nominated for the award. The panel of judges who select the winner also includes last year’s award winner and the NFL commissioner.
The National Football League sponsors all the funds and the amount the winner and nominees receive. The winner is awarded a trophy and $250,000 for the charity of their choice. However, the nominees also receive an endowment of $50,000.
Since 2017 previous winners and nominees active in the league must wear league batches and helmets on their uniforms to represent the trophy.
Currently, active winners of the league are;
- Russell Wilson
- Dak Prescott
- Calais Campbell
- Cameron Hayword
When is the Walter Payton Award given?
There are actually two awards named after Walter Payton:
- The Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award is given annually by the National Football League (NFL). It honors a player’s volunteer and charity work, as well as his excellence on the field. The winner is typically announced in early February, during the week leading up to the Super Bowl.
- The Walter Payton Award is awarded annually to the most outstanding offensive player in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) of college football. The winner is typically announced in December or January.
2023 Nominees and Winners:
| Team | Nominees |
| Arizona Cardinals | Jonathan Ledbetter |
| Atlanta Falcons | Bradley Pinion |
| Baltimore Ravens | Roquan Smith |
| Buffalo Bills | Dion Dawkins |
| Carolina Panthers | Bradley Bozeman |
| Chicago Bears | Justin Jones |
| Cincinnati Bengals | Ted Karras |
| Cleveland Browns | Anthony Walker Jr. |
| Dallas Cowboys | DeMarcus Lawrence |
| Denver Broncos | Garett Bolles |
| Detriot Lions | Frank Ragnow |
| Green Bay Packers | De’Vondre Campbell |
| Houston Texan | Jon Weeks |
| Indianapolis Colts | Zaire Franklin |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | Dawuane Smoot |
| Kansas City Chiefs | Patrick Mahomes II |
| Las Vegas Riders | Maxx Crosby |
| Los Angeles Chargers | Drewin James Jr |
| Los Angeles Rams | Cooper Kupp |
| Miami Dolphins | Alec Ingold |
| Minnesota Vikings | Harrison Phillips |
| New England Patriots | Jonathan Jones |
| New England Saint | Tyrann Mathieu |
| New York Giants | Saquon Barkley |
| New York Jets | Solomon Thomas |
| Philadelphia Eagles | Lane Johnson |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | Cameron Heyward |
| San Francisco 49ers | Arik Armstead |
| Seattle Seahawks | Bobby Wagner |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Antonie Winfield Jr |
| Tennessee Titans | Jeffery Simmons |
| Washington Commands | Terry McLaurin |
2023 Winner:
Cameron Hayword from Bittsburg won the Walter Payton Man of The Year Award.
Previous Winners of the Walter Payton Man of The Year Award:
Following is the list of players who had previously won Walter Payton Man of the Year.
| Year | Player | Team |
| 1970 | Johnny Unitas | Baltimore Colts |
| 1971 | JohnHadl | San Diego Chargers |
| 1972 | Willie Lanier | Kansas City Chiefs |
| 1973 | Len Dawson | Kansas City Chiefs |
| 1974 | George Blanda | Oakland Raiders |
| 1975 | Ken Anderson | Cincinnati Bengals |
| 1976 | Franco Harris | Pittsburgh Steeler |
| 1977 | Walter Payton | Chicago Bears |
| 1978 | Roger Staubach | Dallas Cowboys |
| 1979 | Joe Greene | Pittsburgh Steeler |
| 1980 | Harlod Carmicheal | Philadelphia Eagles |
| 1981 | Lynn Swann | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 1982 | Joe Theismann | Washington Redshiks |
| 1983 | Rolf Benirschke | San Deigo Chargers |
| 1984 | Marty Lyons | New York Jets |
| 1985 | Dwight Stephenson | Miami Dolphins |
| 1986 | Reggie Williams | Cincinnati Bengals |
| 1987 | Dave Duerson | Chicago Bears |
| 1988 | Steve Largent | Seattle Seahawks |
| 1989 | Warren Moon | Houston Oilers |
| 1990 | Mike Singletary | Chicago Bears |
| 1991 | Anthony Munoz | Cincinnati Bengals |
| 1992 | John Elway | Denver Broncos |
| 1993 | Derrick Thomas | Kansan City Chiefs |
| 1994 | Junior Seau | San Deigo Chargers |
| 1995 | Boomer Esiason | New York Jets |
| 1996 | Darrel Green | Washington Redskins |
| 1997 | Troy Aikman | Dallas Cowboys |
| 1998 | Dan Marino | Miami Dolphins |
| 1999 | Cris Carter | Minnesota Vikings |
| 2000 | Derrick Brooks | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| 2001 | Jerome Bettis | Pittsburgh Steeler |
| 2002 | Troy Vincent | Philadelphia Eagles |
| 2003 | Will Shields | Kansas City Chiefs |
| 2004 | Warrick Dunn | Atlanta Falcons |
| 2005 | Payton Manning | Indianapolis Colts |
| 2006 | Drew Brees & LaDanina Tomlinson | San Deigo Chargers/ New Orleans Saints |
| 2007 | Jason Taylor | Miami Dolphins |
| 2008 | Kurt Warner | Arizona Cardinals |
| 2009 | Brain Waters | Kansas City Chiefs |
| 2010 | Madeiu Williams | Minnesota Vikings |
| 2011 | Matt Birk | Baltimore Ravens |
| 2012 | Jason Witten | Dallas Cowboys |
| 2013 | Charles Tillman | Chicago Bears |
| 2014 | Thomas Davis Sr | Carolina Panthers |
| 2015 | Anquan Boldin | San Francisco 49ers |
| 2016 | Larry Fitzgerald & Eli Manning | Arizona Cardinals / New York Giants |
| 2017 | J.J. Watt | Houston Texans |
| 2018 | Chris Long | Philadelphia Eagles |
| 2019 | Calais Campbell | Jacksonville Jaguars |
| 2020 | Russell Wilson | Seattle Seahawks |
| 2021 | Andrew Whitworth | Los Angeles Rams |
| 2022 | Dak Prescott | Dallas Cowboys |
| 2023 | Cameron Hayword | Pittsburgh Steelers |
Final Verdict:
From Walter Payton’s journey, we conclude that if you are sincere with yourself only, you can achieve whatever you want. There will be no obstacles in front of you. You can overcome all your weaknesses, whether they are in the form of color, height, language, or any other.
Your silent struggle will make a sound in the form of success. You will succeed in a way that people will change their legacy for you. As the NFL changed the award name in honor and to maintain the legacy of Walter Payton.
So do not lose hope, motivate yourself and you will succeed one day.