Every year the NFL solicits nominees from each of its 32 franchises for the Walter Payton Man of the Year award, given to the athlete with the most exemplary record of volunteer and charity work. It comes with a small check, but the competition amongst some of the NFLs great philanthropists keep the reputation of the award as a high honor. The Carolina Panthers nominated Thomas Davis for the award four times during his career in Charlotte. He remains the only Panther to have won the award.
Most of his charitable work was and still is funneled through the Charlotte-based Thomas Davis Defending Dreams Foundation that he started with his wife, Kelly.