At the end of a year where he added a high-profile role as an activist to a history of behind-the-scenes work on social justice issues in the Twin Cities, Eric Kendricks is the Vikings' nominee for the NFL's Walter Payton Man of the Year award.
The Vikings recognized Kendricks as their 2020 Community Man of the Year, and officially put him in the running for the league's highest off-field honor, in a ceremony on Wednesday afternoon.
After co-owner Mark Wilf and General Manager Rick Spielman praised the All-Pro linebacker for his work in the community, and before he took questions from reporters, Kendricks became the interviewer and took time to highlight the work of three organizations with whom he's been involved for several years: the All Square Institute, Every Meal and the Hennepin County Juvenile Detention Center.