New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton has been nominated for the 2024 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award.
Head coach Brian Daboll informed the team of Slayton's honor on Monday, and the official nomination was announced Thursday morning.
“It’s hard to even put it into words,” Slayton said. “I didn’t see that coming at all. Even as a kid you see all these things the players do and you never know. Andrew Whitworth won (in 2021) and I remember him standing up there telling a story about one of his last years in the league. He said a guy came up to him and said, “I was one of those kids at the Boys and Girls Club and I made it big.” To me, that's the ultimate. There's not really much you could do in your career or anything that would top having someone come up to you and say, “You inspired me and here I am.” Even if it wasn't the NFL, that would be this is the greatest achievement in the world.
“I think the award itself speaks to that. That's why I think it's a great honor to be a part of it. I am very grateful and humbled to have been selected.”
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running back Saquon Barkley, now with the Philadelphia Eagles, was the Giants' prospect in each of the previous two seasons. The team's only winner is future Hall of Fame quarterback Eli Manning, who took home the honor in 2016 along with Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald.
Each nominee will receive a $55,000 donation to a charity of their choice. The winner will receive a $265,000 donation through the nfl Foundation and the Nationwide Foundation.
“Obviously football isn’t forever,” Slayton said. “But as long as I'm able, I'm going to do my best to continue the things we've been doing and continue to find new things, new ways to help people, new people to help.”
“As long as you are able, you should help, you should give, you should try to help other people do things like this better. That will always be a part of my life.”
Slayton is involved in many charities and community events including the Left-Right Foundationwhich he founded in 2022.
Named after the late Chicago Bears running back Walter Payton, the award “recognizes an nfl player for outstanding charitable activities off the field as well as outstanding achievements on the field” and is considered the most prestigious in the NFL.
