Denzel Ward named Browns nominee for Walter Payton Man of the Year

Ward’s nomination for Walter Payton Player of the Year is for his work honoring his father’s memory:

The Cleveland Browns have a vital game in Week 14 against the Baltimore Ravens. The team has also shown a great propensity for serving the vital needs in the community as well. Whether it is serving a Thanksgiving meal, a charity bowling event or a charity softball game, Browns players have been highly involved around Cleveland.

Today, the NFL announced their nominees for the Walter Payton Man of the Year. The award is focused on players who do great things in their communities, representing the great work of the Chicago Bears great Walter Payton. Last year, Russell Wilson was given the award for his work to feed people during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cleveland’s nominee this year is cornerback Denzel Ward. As covered in a previous story, Ward has worked hard to raise money for CPR kits and defibrillators in the community in honor of his father. Ward wrote about his father in a Player’s Tribue article saying:

I think my dad would have been proud — probably as proud as he’d ever been. But I’m telling you … when they named that street after him? That would have been a great moment for him. Because he was never concerned with being the best father he could be. Or the best husband he could be. Or the best teacher he could be. He wanted to be the best man he could be. And he believed that if he did that — if he concentrated on that every day, every minute, every second — then everything else would take care of itself.

He had made everybody know his name.

The winner of this year’s award will be announced at the NFL Honors show on February 10th.