NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year

Desmond King II reflects on Christian Kirksey’s nomination for Walter Payton Man of the Year award

King, a college teammate of Kirksey at the University of Iowa, told reporters that the linebacker’s nomination was a long time coming

Nominations were submitted by every team in the NFL this week for the league’s most prestigious honor, the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, and the Houston Texans selected linebacker Christian Kirksey as their representative for his work in the community this year. Ultimately, every player who is nominated is deserving of the accolade, but only one will be chosen as the league’s top off-field performer for their service.

Cornerback Desmond King II was asked about Kirksey’s nomination on Tuesday and made it clear to the media that the recognition has been a long time coming for his college teammate.

“I’ve been around Christian [Kirksey] for so long now,” King told reporters. “He was actually a senior in college when I was a freshman at Iowa, so I’ve been around Christian. Very great person, very selfless. He cares about everyone that’s around him. Definitely a leader and I congratulate him for being nominated for that award. He is definitely the epitome of being a community guy. That’s something that’s definitely stood out for him since I’ve met him.”

The praise from King is certainly warranted and speaks to Kirksey’s commitment over a series of years to making an impact in the communities he has played in. It takes a special kind of person to be put up for consideration to receive such a high honor, and Kirksey certainly seems to fit the bill.

In his nomination, the Texans cited Kirksey’s work with families in Uvalde, Texas, and his continued commitment to strengthening the team’s bond with Texas Southern University as examples of work he has put in to warrant his selection as the team’s candidate.

Fans should stay tuned to the NFL’s postseason awards as the season winds down to stay in the know about Kirksey’s chances of winning the award.

Linebacker Christian Kirksey named Texans’ Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee

Kirksey was named as the #Texans’ nominee for the prestigious Walter Payton Man of the Year award

The Houston Texans have named linebacker Christian Kirksey as their nominee to receive the Walter Payton Man of the Year award in 2022. According to the team, Kirksey exemplifies the qualities of what it means to be a Texan both on the field, but especially in the community.

The Walter Payton Man of the Year award is considered the NFL’s most prestigious, and “recognizes a player for their outstanding community service activities off the field and excellence on the field” according to a release put out by the team on Tuesday.

Texans owner Cal McNair issued a statement with the release in which he expressed his support in nominating Kirksey to receive this highest of honors.

“We are proud to call Christian Kirksey a leader on our team and in the Houston community,” McNair said. “He sets an example for everyone on how to do things on and off the field, and he is incredibly deserving of this honor.”

Kirksey was nominated because of his numerous off-field projects, not only in the Houston area but around Texas as a whole. According to the release, Kirksey helped cement the Texans’ partnership with Texas Southern University last year, awarding a local high school coach with Coach of the Week honors and speaking to high school students about the right way to carry themselves both on and off the field.

He also made a trip to Uvalde, Texas in the wake of the tragedy at Robb Elementary School to surprise the Uvalde High School football team at their team dinner, and provided players with new Nike uniforms.

His good deeds have not gone unnoticed by the Houston community, and Kirksey is more than deserving of the nomination. One player from each team is chosen as a candidate to win the award, and fans will need to wait until the end of the season to find out if Kirksey will be the eventual winner of this cherished accolade.

Texans DT D.J. Reader earns NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year nomination

Houston Texans defensive tackle D.J. Reader earned the Texans’ NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year Award nomination for his off-the-field work.

Houston Texans defensive tackle D.J. Reader impact goes far beyond the gridiron. On Wednesday, the NFL announced his nomination for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award.

The award is given out for service done in the community. Previously, J.J. Watt won the award for his efforts in aiding Houston in the wake of Hurricane Harvey.

Similar to Watt’s patch he dons for the award, Reader will boast a Walter Payton Man of the Year Award decal on his helmet for the rest of the season. Every team has a nominee.

“Every day, in cities and towns across America, NFL players give of themselves to make our communities better,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. “This year, as we celebrate our 100th season and the 50th year of the Walter Payton NFL Man of Year Award, NFL players have continued to raise the bar on community engagement and impact. “The 32 nominees for this year’s award are the best of the best and truly embody the spirit of Walter and his legacy of leaving the world better than he found it.”

Reader is an advocate for the National Kidney Foundation. He lost his father, David, to kidney failure while at the University of Clemson. He is also an active member in the Texans’ NFL Play 60 efforts, which aids the Houston community in promoting healthy lifestyles to youths.

Reader previously won the Texans’ 2019 Spirit of the Bull Award, given for his impact off the field.

All 32 team nominees will be recognized for their efforts off the field in the weekend leading up to Super Bowl LIV in Miami.

The winner of the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award will be announced on Feb. 1 during Super Bowl festivities. They will receive $250,000 to charity in their name. All nominees receive $50,000 in their name to a charity, no matter if they win or not.