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Jacksonville Jaguars name DE Arik Armstead as Walter Payton Man of the Year Award nominee
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- Jacksonville Jaguars name DE Arik Armstead as Walter Payton Man of the Year Award nominee
The Jacksonville Jaguars have named defensive lineman Arik Armstead as the team's nominee for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award .
During his time with the San Francisco 49ers , Armstead was named a nominee for the award four times. This year marks his fifth time as the nominee of his team.
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"I am honored to be nominated for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award in my first year with the Jacksonville Jaguars ," said Armstead via the team.
"This recognition reflects the incredible support from my family, teammates, and the Jaguars organization as we work together to make a positive impact both on and off the field. Giving back to the community has always been a cornerstone of who I am, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to continue that mission here in Jacksonville," Armstead said via the team.
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Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson noted that Armstead is worthy of this honor after seeing what he means to the locker room and off the field within the community.
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"Since Arik's arrival in Jacksonville this year, he has made a positive impression on the field and in the locker room, especially with our younger players. But it is with his philanthropic mindset where he truly shines," said Pederson via the team.
"Arik is guided by the principles of servant leadership, and Jacksonville and the Jaguars are fortunate to have him here and making a difference in this community. Arik is truly worthy of this honor, and we are proud to support his nomination as our 2024 Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee."
The award is considered the NFL's most prestigious honor. It recognizes players who have "exhibited excellence on the field and whose passion to impact lives extends beyond the game," according to the team's press release.
Armstead, signed by the Jaguars this spring, has shown commitment to the local community. In 2019, Armstead established the Armstead Academic Project (AAP) which ensured that every student, regardless of socioeconomic status, has access to resources needed.
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"Since joining the Jaguars in 2024, he has been active in the Jacksonville community, expanding his reach by participating in the EverBank Touchdowns for Tomorrow program which highlights the importance of financial literacy, demonstrated on the field through football drills," the press release states, via the Jaguars.
"Armstead joined EverBank staff and hundreds of kids from Duval County Public Schools to emphasize the importance of financial education at a young age and to ensure they are setting themselves up for success in the future. Later this month, he will be working with Blessing in a Backpack, a nonprofit that provides food on weekends and holidays for school-aged children who might otherwise go hungry."
Armstead has played 128 games in his career. He's accounted for 34.5 sacks, 195 solo tackles and three forced fumbles. In 12 games with the Jaguars, Armstead has 18 solo tackles and one sack.
All 32 nominees for the award will be recognized in the week leading up to Super Bowl LIX. The winner will be announced during NFL Honors, aired nationally on FOX and the NFL Network on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025. Each nominee will receive up to a $55,000 donation, and the winner will receive a $265,000 donation to the charity of his choice.
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Additionally, fans can participate in a separate, Nationwide Charity Challenge, an online contest that allows fans to show their support for their favorite nominee. Fans can vote on X by posting #WPMOYChallenge along with the name or X handle of their chosen nominee or voting directly on NFL.com/ManOfTheYear .
The nominee who receives the most mentions and online votes will win an additional $35,000 donation from Nationwide to the charity of their choice, with the runner-up receiving $10,000 and the third-place winner receiving $5,000. The voting takes place from Dec. 5, 2024-Jan. 6, 2025.
Demetrius Harvey is the Jacksonville Jaguars reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @Demetrius82 or on Bluesky @ Demetrius .
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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jaguars tab DE Arik Armstead as Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee
