Season after he swung helmet in game, Myles Garrett named Browns' 2020 Walter Payton Man of the Year
The Browns announced Thursday morning they named defensive end Myles Garrett their 2020 Walter Payton Man of the Year.
The Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award recognizes a player for his excellence on and off the field. Each team nominates one player, and those 32 players who are named their team's Man of the Year become eligible to win the national award.
The Browns honoring Garrett is the latest of example of the organization supporting him in the aftermath of his suspension last season for striking Mason Rudolph over the head with the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback's helmet.
"We stress the importance of having smart, tough, accountable players who prioritize the team and others above individual accomplishments. Myles exemplifies those characteristics both on and off the field," Browns General Manager Andrew Berry said in a statement released by the team. "His performance on Sundays has been exceptional this season, but the socioeconomic work he has done in our community and abroad will have a more lasting impact. We are proud to have Myles represent our organization, including as our Walter Payton Man of the Year."
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The winner of the award each year receives a $250,000 donation to the winner's charity of choice. The other 31 nominees receive up to a $50,000 donation to their charity of choice. The donations are courtesy of the NFL Foundation and Nationwide.
Garrett is among 11 players on the Browns' social justice leadership committee. He reached out to victims of police brutality and their families this past offseason. He covered funeral costs for David McAtee of Louisville, Kentucky, and paid tribute to John Saunders with his helmet decal during games.
In 2019, Garrett was named the captain of the NFL Waterboys program, which focuses on bringing clean water to communities in East Africa.
In February, he made a two-week trip to Tanzania, where he helped install wells. He also pledged to donate $5,000 to Waterboys for every sack he registers this season. Despite missing two games with COVID-19, Garrett is tied for third in the NFL with 10½ sacks this season.
Garrett also partnered with Cleveland Hope Exchange and local businesses to provide more than 24,000 pounds of food to those in need this past spring as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"It is an honor to be named the Walter Payton Man of the Year for my team," Garrett said in the statement. "It is of incredible significance just to be honored and have that kind of recognition because Sweetness was a hell of a man and a hell of a football player. He has been recognized and gone down in history for his off of the field passions and what he did for people in his community and all across the world. I would like to keep that going. He is one of my favorite running backs, as well as players. To be in the same sentence as him and the same breath is an honor in itself."
Browns Executive Vice President JW Johnson will formally present the award to Garrett before Monday night's home game against Baltimore.
The other 31 nominees:
Arizona: Corey Peters
Atlanta: Steven Means
Baltimore: Bradley Bozeman
Buffalo: Harrison Phillips
Carolina: Shaq Thompson
Chicago: Jimmy Graham
Cincinnati: Geno Atkins
Dallas: Jaylon Smith
Denver: Justin Simmons
Detroit: Trey Flowers
Green Bay: Corey Linsley
Houston: Michael Thomas
Indianapolis: Jacoby Brissett
Jacksonville: Josh Lambo
Kansas City: Travis Kelce
Las Vegas: Alec Ingold
LA Chargers: Isaac Rochell
LA Rams: Andrew Whitworth
Miami: Byron Jones
Minnesota: Eric Kendricks
New England: Devin McCourty
New Orleans: Demario Davis
NY Giants: Dalvin Tomlinson
NY Jets: Pierre Desir
Philadelphia: Rodney McLeod
Pittsburgh: Vance McDonald
San Francisco: Arik Armstead
Seattle: Russell Wilson
Tampa Bay: Mike Evans
Tennessee: Kevin Byard
Washington: Jonathan Allen