The Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award presented by Nationwide is the league’s most prestigious honor, recognizing players who excel on the field and demonstrate a commitment to creating a positive impact beyond the game.
“The Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award is our league’s most revered honor, celebrating players for their excellence both on and off the field,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. “These 32 men represent the best of the NFL, and the incredible contributions they make to their teams and communities every day continue to keep Walter’s legacy alive.”
Below are the AFC East nominees.
Buffalo Bills, Dion Dawkins
Excellence on the Field
Dawkins is a franchise cornerstone of the Bills offensive line, starting 130 of 136 games as the longest-tenured Bills player
4x Pro Bowl selection
2 receiving touchdowns
5 straight AFC East titles
7 playoff appearances
Dedication & Commitment to Community Efforts This Year
Dawkins has a deep commitment to Buffalo’s most vulnerable populations. He’s involved with education and justice initiatives for youth. He “adopted” Buffalo Public School #131, a last-chance high school for youth in the juvenile justice system. His regular visits are focused on encouragement and empowerment.
He also supports workforce development, advocating and fundraising for Northland Workforce Training Center. This initiative supports transportation, books, and tools for students.
His nonprofit, Dion’s Dreamers, has a broad reach that focuses on food insecurity, health access, and youth and justice reform. He’s been apart of events like the 5th Annual 716 Day with over 60 vendors, 50 bikes and helmets given away. He was also apart of the ShnowVille Charity Kickball Tournament, which awarded scholarships to Rahway HS seniors and donated football uniforms.
Dedication & Commitment to Community Efforts in Years Past
Dion’s Dreamers was founded in 2020 with focus areas on hunger, education, workforce development, and youth outcomes. He holds the key to the City of Buffalo, where fewer than 10 recipients have gotten this honor since the early 1980s.
After the tragic 2022 Tops grocery store mass shooting, he redirected foundation efforts to Buffalo’s East Side and raised funds for Buffalo 5/14 Survivors Fund.
Through his foundation’s focus on food insecurity, Dawkins helped feed over 20,000 people since 2022. 716 Day became a healing space for a traumatized community. He also works with the Erie County Juvenile Court Youth Empowerment Program, bringing teammates along to teach next-gen Bills to be leaders off the field.
Miami Dolphins, Bradley Chubb
Excellence on the Field
Entering his 8th NFL season
Voted team captain in 2025
2x Pro Bowler
11 sacks and 6 forced fumbles in 2023
Led a Dolphins defense that set a franchise sack record (56)
AFC Defensive Player of the Week (Week 15, 2023)
Dedication & Commitment to Community Efforts This Year
Chubb’s mission is to activate human potential. He launched a “Moving the Needle” program with Truist, which teaches budgeting, investing, and wealth basics. He hosted a Boys & Girls Club event where he gave out backpacks, provided haircuts and games, and had a community policing presence.
Chubb also launched the “Name of the Game” Chess Initiative, which is a 10-week program teaching strategy, discipline, and decision-making. Chubb regularly visits hospitals with pediatric patients to partake in a “Tackle Reading” literacy event.
Chubb hosts a lot of youth programs, such as youth camps in Atlanta, South Florida, and Raleigh, N.C. He also supports the Junior Dolphins partnership where he supports PE and youth football access.
Dedication & Commitment to Community Efforts in Years Past
In 2018, Bradley co-founed the Chubb Foundation with signature programs including “Moving the Need’e” and a 10-week entrepreneurship course culminating in Pitch Night.
He consistently gives Thanksgiving meals, holiday gifts, and provides disaster relief. His involvement with the Boys & Girls Club involves mentorship, speaking, and programming.
New England Patriots, Hunter Henry
Excellence on the Field
Entering his 10th NFL season
Top-6 among active TEs in receptions, yards and touchdowns
Team Captain 4/5 seasons
Dedication & Commitment to Community Efforts This Year
Henry has local and global reach, proving no idea is too large for the Patriots tight end. He took a Kenya trip with International Justice Mission (IJM) an organization combatting human trafficking. Some of his signature events include annual bicycle giveaways, BedZone Bash (an event for giving beds to kids who need it) and a Kicks for Kids sneaker event.
He has a hands-on presence throughout the community, such as reading at Chittick Elementary school, helping with the Special Olympics Patriots events, and Training Camp Foundation tent visits.
Dedication & Commitment to Community Efforts in Years Past
Henry held a major fundraiser called “Rally for Rescue” which was a ping pong tournament. Over $316K was raised for anti-human trafficking efforts. He has long-term advocacy with IJM and Compassion International (child sponsorship).
He has family-focused giving during Halloween and Thanksgiving, and gives to Perkins School for the Blind as well as Patriots Day of Pampering.
Henry was nominated for the 2024 Bart Starr Award and received the 2025 Ron Burton Award.
New York Jets, Quincy Williams
Excellence on the Field:
Defensive Engine since 2021
Over 105 tackles each season
2023 First-Team All-Pro
AFC Defensive Player of the Month (Oct. 2023)
Dedication & Commitment to Community Efforts This Year
Williams is very involved in cancer awareness and survivor care and accessibility. He hosted Jets Crucial Catch honorary captains – five children that have underwent cancer treatment. This emphasized dignity, visibility, and a celebration of resilience.
He also hosted a Pilates & Wellness Day for Breast Cancer Survivors in October 2025, hosted in partnership with the American Cancer Society of New Jersey. This event focused on holistic healing, not just awareness with community connection, mental health and stress relief, and gentle movement.
He also hosts a free football camp at Miles College and served over 200 youth in this completely free event. Partnering with Birmingham City Schools and Birmingham Housing Authority, this event had on-field instruction, mentorship conversations, and life guidance beyond football. This camp intentionally helped underserved communities by removing common barriers like cost, transportation and access, and positioned athletes as a gateway to confidence and discipline.
Dedication & Commitment to Community Efforts in Years Past:
Williams advocates for Alzheimer’s awareness funding and annual ACS survivor events. On pace with health advocacy and awareness, Williams participates in the Jets Unified Flag Football, an event apart of the Special Olympics.
Williams advocates for food insecurity through his Blessings in a Backpack volunteer work at Lambert High School to help combat food insecurity, ensuring children had access to meals over the weekend.
All 32 club winners will be recognized for their achievements during the week leading up to Super Bowl LX in the Bay Area. The national winner of the 2025 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award presented by Nationwide will be announced during NFL Honors, a primetime awards special airing on Thursday, Feb. 5.
To learn more about the stories of all 32 players and for more information about the award, please visit NFL.com/ManOfTheYear.
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