Bradley Bozeman, Jonathan Jones up for NFLâs top honor
Carolina Panthers center Bradley Bozeman and New England Patriots cornerback Jonathan Jones have been nominated for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award by their teams.
The NFL announced the 32 team nominees on Tuesday.
The annual honor “recognizes an NFL player for outstanding community-service activities off the field, as well as excellence on the field.”
After playing at Handley High School in Roanoke and Alabama, Bozeman entered the NFL as a sixth-round selection in the 2018 NFL Draft. Jones joined New England from Auburn as an undrafted rookie in 2016.
Each player operates a charitable foundation – the Next Step Foundation for Jones and the Bradley and Nikki Bozeman Foundation.
“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,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said. “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.”
Each nominee for the award receives up to $55,000 for his charitable work. The Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award winner will have $250,000 donated in his name to the charity of his choice.
The winner of this year’s award will be announced during the “NFL Honors” program on Feb. 8.
Nationwide’s ninth annual Charity Challenge allows football fans to help the nominees earn more for their charities. Fans can vote online or on X by using #WPMOYChallenge followed by their favorite nominee’s last name or X handle, and the player whose unique hashtag is used the most through Jan. 8 will receive an additional $35,000 for his charity. The second- and third-place finishers will receive $10,000 and $5,000 donations, respectively.
Past winners of the Man of the Year Award include four Alabama alumni – Green Bay Packers quarterback Bart Starr in 1969, New York Jets defensive tackle Mary Lyons in 1984, Miami Dolphins center Dwight Stephenson in 1985 and Kansas City Chiefs outside linebacker Derrick Thomas in 1993.
New England Patriots cornerback Jonathan Jones breaks up a pass to New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave during an NFL game on Oct. 8, 2023, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.(Staff Photo By Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald)
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.