Denzel Ward Named the Cleveland Browns 2024 Nominee for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award Presented by Nationwide (12.5.24)

For Immediate Release

Dec. 5, 2024

Denzel Ward Named the Cleveland Browns 2024 Nominee for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award Presented by Nationwide

BEREA, Ohio – Today, Cornerback Denzel Ward was announced as the Cleveland Browns nominee for the 2024 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award Presented by Nationwide. Known as the League’s most prestigious honor, the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award acknowledges NFL players who are doing so much more than just excelling on-the-field, they demonstrate a passion for creating a lasting positive impact beyond the game in their communities.

Since being drafted by the Browns in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft, Denzel Ward, an Ohio native, has showcased his leadership on the field and in the community. This season, Ward was named a captain for the first time in his career and is currently leading the league in passes defensed with a career-high 19. Ward also extended his accomplishment as the only NFL player to record at least 10 passes defensed and two interceptions in every season since 2018. Through his foundation, Make Them Know Your Name (MTKYN), as well as his continued involvement with the Cleveland Browns community programming and initiatives, Ward continues to make a lasting impact that will endure well beyond his football career.

Reflecting on the unexpected loss of his father, Paul G. Ward Jr., to cardiac arrest while he was in college, Ward established MTKYN in 2019 which focuses on preventing heart-related fatalities in communities across the nation by providing the resources necessary to educate people in the various aspects of heart health. Throughout Denzel’s life, Paul emphasized ‘Make Them Know Your Name’ in all aspects of life from the football field to his off-field endeavors. Ward and his foundation have vowed to take this message and honor his late father by providing heart health education, prevention and treatment to his community.

“It’s an honor to be nominated the Walter Payton Man of the Year by the Cleveland Browns and get recognized for one of the most prestigious awards in the league through the hard work my family and I are doing with our Make Them Know Your Name Foundation by helping change lives and prevent families from experiencing what we did”, said Browns cornerback Denzel Ward. “Special thanks to my mom, who has been with me through and through, doing an amazing job making strides to instill confidence in using CPR and AED kits in addition to putting more into more schools and facilities to make an everlasting impact on others. This award shows the type of character you are off the field, and I am forever grateful for the Browns organization to select me as their nominee for this year.”

During this past offseason, Ward traveled to the Columbus Statehouse where he helped to provide written testimonies in support of House Bill 47. A few months later, House Bill 47 was signed by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, requiring all public school and non-public charter schools – along with all municipally owned or operated sports and recreational centers – to have automatic external defibrillators (AEDs). The bill also required the Ohio Department of Health to develop a model emergency action plan for the use of AEDs and for support staff and coaches to know how to perform CPR and use an AED.

Additionally, this season, MTKYN committed $150,000 to bring over 100 state-of-the-art, lifesaving Avive Connect AEDS to local nonprofits, community organizations, small businesses and houses of worship in the Cleveland community. Alongside Avive Solutions, MTKYN has partnered with the NFL’s Smart Health Sports Coalition to develop the coalition’s, “AEDs For Youth” program aimed at providing affordable AEDS and CPR training for K-12 school and youth organizations. Following this work, Ward was named a 2024 Nation of Lifesavers Player Ambassador for the American Heart Association and the Week 7 NFLPA Community MVP.

“We are incredibly grateful to have Denzel Ward represent the Cleveland Browns as our 2024 Walter Peyton Man of the Year for a second time,” said Dee and Jimmy Haslam, Cleveland Browns Managing and Principal Partners. “Since joining the Browns, his dedication, both on and off the field, and his ongoing commitment to positively impacting our community through his Make Them Know Your Name Foundation and its work to prevent heart-related fatalities embodies what it means to be a true leader. We know how proud Denzel’s mother, Nicole, and his late father, Paul, must be of him. We are honored to recognize Denzel with this award and support his continued efforts in Cleveland and throughout the entire state of Ohio.”

Throughout the year, MTKYN hosts multiple signature community events, including the Cleveland All-Star Fitness Expo, Pop Up in the Park and Fitness Under the Lights, drawing thousands of participants from the community. Through his local youth and high school football efforts, Ward has engaged with multiple local athletes and programs. During the spring, Ward hosted his annual ‘Denzel Ward Elite Skills Football Camp’ where over 300 Greater Cleveland youth participants learned key lifesaving skills involving AEDs and CPR followed by hands-on football instruction from Ward and participated in a 7on7 Flag Football Showcase. The camp is free of charge and serves as an opportunity for MTKYN to educate athletes on heart health and safety.

Each nominee will receive up to $55,000 and the award winner will receive up to a $265,000 donation to their charity of choice. All donations are made possible by the NFL Foundation and Nationwide Foundation.

All 32 nominees will be recognized for their achievements during the week leading up to Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans. The winner of the 2024 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award will be announced during NFL Honors, a primetime awards special to air nationally on FOX and the NFL Network on Thursday, Feb. 6.

Fans are once again encouraged to participate in Nationwide’s annual Charity Challenge, a social media and online contest that allows fans to show support for their favorite Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year nominee. Fans can vote on X/Twitter by posting #WPMOYChallenge along with the last name/X handle of their chosen nominee or by voting directly on NFL.com/ManOfTheYear. The nominee who receives the most collective hashtag mentions and online votes will win an additional $35,000 donation from Nationwide to the charity of their choice, with the runner-up receiving $10,000 and the third-place winner receiving $5,000. Charity Challenge voting takes place from Thursday, Dec. 5 to Sunday, Jan. 6.

Beginning Week 14 and continuing through the end of the season, each of this year’s nominees, including Denzel Ward, will wear a special Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year helmet decal in recognition of their accomplishments on and off the field.

For more information about the award, please visit NFL.com/ManOfTheYear.

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