Jacksonville Jaguars defensive lineman Calais Campbell won the Walter Payton Man of the Year award at the NFL Honors show Saturday, which gave fans of the franchise a lot to smile about after a rough season. The award, of course, is a huge deal because it recognizes a player for their work within the community, as well as their excellence on the field, and none have balanced the two better than Campbell.
Upon winning the award, Campbell took the stage to discuss what winning the award meant to him. He elaborated on how his high school coach pushed him to have an impact on the world like Walter Payton, some of the veterans that showed him how to be an example on and off the field, and thanked those who helped the CRC Foundation to flourish.
"Everybody, and I mean everybody, can give back. Wherever you are in your life, reach back and help someone."
Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year @CalaisCampbell is an inspiration to us all. pic.twitter.com/Rw2HcIuipc
— #DUUUVAL (@Jaguars) February 2, 2020
The CRC Foundation was created by Campbell and his mother, Natea, who he thanked while receiving the award. The foundation was named after Calais’ late father, Charles Campbell, and is dedicated to teaching life skills to the youth. Throughout his stops in Arizona and Florida, Cambpbell has done a great deal of work the it comes to helping the youth, which is exactly why the award is well deserved for the veteran defensive lineman.
On the field, Campbell accumulated 56 tackles and 6.5 sacks in 2019. He was voted into the Pro Bowl for the fifth time in his career and had such an impact in the annal all-star game that he was named Defensive MVP for the AFC.