Charles Leno Jr. finished his 10th NFL season earlier this month and his third season with the Washington Commanders. In 10 NFL seasons, Leno has played 149 games with 141 starts. He’s also made the Pro Bowl, too.
Not bad for a former seventh-round pick.
But for as good as Leno has been on the field throughout his NFL career, he’s even more impressive off the field. In 2022, Leno was named the Commanders’ Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award nominee for his outstanding work in the community.
Leno and his wife Jennifer have participated in numerous off-field activities in the DMV community, and in 2020, created “Leno Claus,” which gives back to families in need during the first 20 days of December.
Leno is also a four-time Community MVP and two-time NFLPA Community MVP.
On Wednesday, the NFLPA announced the five finalists for the 2024 NFLPA Alan Page Community Award. The award is named after Pro Football Hall of Famer Alan Page, who enjoyed a 15-year NFL career that saw him win numerous awards, including NFL MVP, a two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team and much, much more.
But Page saved his most impressive work for after his playing career when he became a Minnesota Supreme Court judge. Page received a Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2018.
From the NFLPA:
The Alan Page Community (APC) Award is the highest honor that the NFLPA can bestow upon a player. The award annually recognizes one union member who goes above and beyond to perform community service in his team city and/or hometown. As an award for the players and by the players, the winner will be determined next week through a league-wide digital vote by their NFL peers.
Leno was one of five finalists, joining Damar Hamlin (Buffalo), Calais Campbell (Atlanta), Harrison Phillips (Minnesota) and Frank Ragnow (Detroit) as the finalists.
All five finalists receive a $10,000 donation from the NFLPA toward their foundation or charity of choice.
Leno also secured the distinction of Week 17 NFLPA Community MVP and APC Award finalist for a second consecutive season after hosting his latest Leno Claus initiative. For 25 days during the month of December, Leno’s Beyond The Entertainer Foundation positively impacted more than 20 different non-profits and causes, including donating 720 winter blankets for Chicagoans in need; covering expenses for a family facing terminal illness to go on a retreat; purchasing 10 computers to help new mothers pursue their education; adopting 22 families in need while clearing their holiday wish lists, helping out with rent, assisting with daycare costs, buying groceries, and much more. Leno and his wife, Jennifer, began this season’s campaign by announcing the launch of Paitynn’s Friends, which honors the daughter that they unexpectedly lost to miscarriage in October and will support those who have lost a sibling by providing care packages.
The winner will be announced at the NFLPA’s annual press conference in Las Vegas on Feb. 7. The winner receives an additional $100K donation to the charity of his choice.
Good luck to Charles Leno Jr.