"I feel like I encourage these kids to dream big and just to stay strong with every situation they go through." –@AntoineWJr11
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— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) December 5, 2023
Plenty of football players make a difference on the field, but not all of them also make a difference off of it. The NFL’s Walter Payton Man of the Year Award commemorates those who do, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have their nominee.
The team announced that safety [autotag]Antoine Winfield Jr.[/autotag] is set to be the nominee for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Winfield Jr. is the team’s third nominee in as many years, as wide receiver Mike Evans was the nominee in 2021 and defensive tackle William Gholston was the nominee in 2022.
Here is what Winfield Jr. had to say about his nomination, per a release from the team:
“It means everything to me to be nominated for Walter Payton Man of the Year. Every year, the organization has the opportunity to nominate an individual and this was a goal that I set for myself. It’s great to not only be nominated, but to have the platform of this great award to now shed light on some of the most pressing issues in our community.”
Winfield Jr. has done good work with foster kids, supporting both Heart Gallery of Tampa and A Kid’s Place of Tampa Bay in his charitable work. Winfield Jr. has also been a big part of the Bucs’ Youth Leadership Program and has done work for Hillsborough County’s Habitat for Humanity to fund the cost of two Habitat homes in the Temple Terrace community, per the team. While a nominee, Winfield Jr. will don the Walter Payton Man of the Year decal on his helmet for the rest of the 2023 season.
The team has only had one Walter Payton Man of the Year award winner, with linebacker Derrick Brooks winning the award in 2000 alongside Chicago Bears defensive tackle Jim Flanigan.
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