Miami Dolphins center Mike Pouncey has been named one of the NFL’s 32 finalists for this year’s Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award. The annual award, which is named after the for the late Hall of Fame running back, recognizes players for their excellence on the field and in the community.
Pouncey was selected because of his leadership on the field as well as he was voted by his Dolphins teammates as a captain for the 2016 season. He was also selected for his work in the Florida community.
Pouncey along with his twin brother, Maurkice Pouncey, who plays for the Pittsburgh Steelers founded the Team Pouncey Foundation, which does community work in their hometown of Lakeland, Fla. In addition to that, Pouncey also active with other South Florida charities and partners with other Dolphins players and alumni.
Three of the 32 nominees will be selected as finalists, and the winner will be announced in Houston, Texas at NFL Honors, which is a two-hour primetime award special to air the night before Super Bowl LI on February 4 from 8-10 p.m. on FOX.
Former Dolphins center Dwight Stephenson (1985), quarterback Dan Marino (1998) and defensive end Jason Taylor (2007) are the three players that have won the award while playing for the team. Miami is one of seven teams that have three or more players that have won the Walter Payton Award since it was introduced in 1970. The Kansas City Chiefs have had five players win the award, the Chicago Bears, the Pittsburgh Steelers and the San Diego Chargers have each had four players recognized as the NFL Man of the Year, while the Dolphins, the Dallas Cowboys and the Cincinnati Bengals each have had three players win the award.
A total of $1 million will be donated in the name of the 2016 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year, with $500,000 going to a charity of the winner’s choice and $500,000 supporting the expansion of Character Playbook across all NFL markets. The two finalists each will receive a $125,000 donation to the charity of their choice and a $125,000 donation in their names to expand Character Playbook and the additional 29 team winners will receive a $50,000 donation to their charity of choice and an additional $50,000 donation in their name to implement Character Playbook in their club market.
