Indianapolis Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin was nominated for the 2023 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award, the league announced Tuesday.
Each team has a nominee for the award, which is described as “the league’s most prestigious honor and acknowledges NFL players who excel on the field and demonstrate a passion for creating a lasting positive impact beyond the game.”
Here is more about the award from the team’s release:
The Walter Payton Man of the Year Award is the most prestigious honor an NFL player can receive. The recipient of the 2023 NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year Award will be announced during the annual NFL Honors show prior to Super Bowl LVIII on Feb. 8, 2024. Each Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee will receive up to $55,000, and the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year winner will receive a $250,000 donation to the charity of his choice.
Through his foundation, Shelice’s Angels (named after his late mother, Shelice), Franklin has hosted workshops, seminars and trips designed to arm young women with the tools, confidence and role models they need to succeed as professionals. Franklin founded Shelice’s Angels in 2019, and over the last four years has seen the young women he’s worked with grow up – and be well-equipped to eventually enter professional environments in fields such as business and technology.
Franklin has been a staple in the locker room and on the field for the Colts since he was selected in the seventh round of the 2018 NFL draft. His impact on the community has been just as strong since he joined the Colts, and it’s no surprise he’s the team nominee.
The last time a Colts player won the award was Peyton Manning in 2005.