Eli Manning Named Finalist for Walter Payton Award
Chapter and Alumni News
In December of 2015 Eli Manning (Mississippi) was named as the New York Giants’ nominee for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award. Named after the late Hall of Fame Chicago Bears running back Walter Payton, the award is given annually by the NFL in recognition of exemplary character and conduct both on and off the field. Each of the NFL’s 32 different teams nominate an individual player after which a panel of judges that includes Payton’s widow, Connie Payton, will select the year’s recipient. The winner receives a $50,000 donation in his name to the charity of his choice.
In January Manning was selected as one of the three finalists for this prestigious award. If selected as the winner, Manning would be the first Giants player to win the award in its 46-year history.
“As my kids get older, I want them to understand the importance of being a part of community, and helping out people that are less fortunate, and how many blessings they have,” Manning said. “I want them to have that in their life and an understanding of how important it is to be help out other people and different causes.”
Manning and his wife Abby have been involved as leaders in launching the Eli and Abby Manning Children’s Clinics in Mississippi as well as the creation of the University of Mississippi Medical Center Manning Fund. Additionally, Manning worked with the Red Cross to collect and fill an airplane with supplies to fly down to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina and worked on an emergency response vehicle following Hurricane Sandy.