Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

Does anyone know who actually votes for the Walter Payton Man of the Year award and what is the voting criteria?

I understand the individual teams nominate one player but from there how is the voting done?

They always say during Super Bowl week when they have the finalists press conference. I know the Commissioner (Goodell) votes, as does the Payton family (maybe just Connie?) and the previous years winner. I want to say they said there was just those three but also am remembering something like five voters on the panel in the past. I believe it was a smaller number like that and outside of Goodell, Payton, previous years winner it was a couple former players (or coaches?).

For criteria it's supposed to be excellence on the field combined with charity/community work. Not sure how those two things are weighted but obviously it's usually a big name/star player that wins. Though in the past when a non-All-Pro/pro bowl level player is a finalist or wins -or when you look at the nominees and see some average players- I've thought it was weird because that ignored the "on field excellence" part of the award. Not that it really matters or is something to point out as wrong. Obviously what is important is the good stuff the players do/are doing. Though that the award is combined with being a good player could make it more 'special'.

Is there any doubt that the award will go to JJ Watt? That's almost like somebody announces his name at the meeting and does a mic drop, and the meeting is over 30 seconds later. After all, he raised (according to the last article I could find in late October) 37 million dollars for Hurricane Harvey relief.

Rupert Patrick wrote:Is there any doubt that the award will go to JJ Watt? That's almost like somebody announces his name at the meeting and does a mic drop, and the meeting is over 30 seconds later. After all, he raised (according to the last article I could find in late October) 37 million dollars for Hurricane Harvey relief.

Rupert, I've been saying the same to my friends who are Seahawks fans and who have all been complaining that Bennett is Seattle's nominee. "He's not going to win anyway, it'll be Watt."

I don't see a problem with JJ Watt winning.