Earlier today, the NFL revealed the 32 nominees for this year’s Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, with one player from each of the league’s franchises competing for the prestigious trophy. The clubs choose their respective nominees themselves, picking players that — according to a press release by the NFL’s communications department — best represent the league’s “commitment to philanthropy and community impact.”
The New England Patriots’ nominee this year does therefore not come as a surprise: safety Devin McCourty. The 31-year old is a long-standing supporter of charitable causes after establishing his McCourty Twins Tackle Sickle Cell campaign together with his twin brother and fellow Patriots defensive back Jason in 2013.