The Philadelphia Eagles have announced team captain Rodney McLeod as its nominee for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award presented by Nationwide.
Considered the league’s most prestigious honor, the award recognizes an NFL player for outstanding community service activities off the field, as well as excellence on the field.
With the COVID-19 pandemic having a deadly impact on the Philadelphia region and across the nation, Rodney and his wife, Erika, founded the Change Our Future Foundation.
The Foundation was designed to empower people through education, advocacy, and awareness in the areas of youth development, healthy lifestyles, and community enrichment.
McLeod had already established various signature campaigns and programs through his foundation and during Week 2, Rodney was named the NFL Players Associations’ Community MVP after distributing 40,000 pounds of fresh food to families through Philadelphia’s Share Food Program.
McLeod released this statement on the nomination.
“I’m incredibly honored to be named the Eagles’ Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year,” said McLeod. “Growing up, I had a lot of people sacrifice to help me get to where I am today. The fact that I have this platform to give back, alongside my family, teammates and the City of Philadelphia, is truly humbling. Impacting the lives of others is one of the highest honors we can all strive to achieve, and I’m blessed to be recognized next to an inspiring group of peers who are making a difference in their communities.”
Since the establishment of the award in 1970, the Philadelphia Eagles have had three players earn the prestigious Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award (2018 – Chris Long; 2002 – Troy Vincent; 1980 – Harold Carmichael).
The Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year will be announced during NFL Honors, a primetime awards special to air the week of Super Bowl LV on CBS.
