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Flanigan
takes home Walter Payton/NFL Man of the Year award
Jim Flanigan’s
crusade against illiteracy earned him one of the NFL’s most prestigious awards
Friday during Super Bowl festivities in Tampa. The Bears’ defensive tackle was
presented as co-recipient of the 2000 Walter Payton/NFL Man of the Year Award
along with Tampa Bay linebacker Derrick Brooks.
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"This is the greatest honor that I’ve ever received as a professional football player," Flanigan said. "I’m very proud to have been selected, but I also know there are a lot of other players in the league that deserve this honor. To be singled out among them is a humbling honor."
The Man of the Year award is the only NFL award that recognizes a player’s community service as well as his playing excellence. In 1999, the league renamed the award after the late Walter Payton as a lasting tribute to his greatness. The connection to the Bears’ legend made Friday’s ceremony even more special for Flanigan.
"That means a lot to me because he was such a great influence on Chicago and on a lot of young players who are playing in the league right now," Flanigan said. "Growing up, everybody tried to emulate Walter Payton. To receive an award that’s named in his honor is a tremendous highlight for me."
Flanigan is the fourth Bears player to win the NFL Man of the Year Award, more than any other team. He was preceded by Payton (1977), Dave Duerson (1987) and Mike Singletary (1990). Flanigan has also recently been named a "Most Caring Athlete" along with NBA players Brian Grant and Dikembe Mutumbo by USA Weekend and one of the 100 "Good Guys in Sports" by The Sporting News.
Flanigan joined the Bears as a third-round draft pick in 1994 and has led the club in sacks three times. The 6-2, 290-pounder has compiled 463 tackles, 40.5 sacks, six forced fumbles, six fumble recoveries and one interception in seven seasons with the Bears. He has also caught four touchdown passes.
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For more coverage of this story check out: Brooks, Flanigan share Man of the Year Award |
Flanigan’s numbers off the field are just as impressive. Through its Great American Book Drive, The James Flanigan Foundation is in the process of delivering 1.2 million books to over 500,000 underprivileged children in Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana. The foundation has also committed $50,000 to the University of Chicago Children’s Hospital’s "Reach out and Read" program.
"Illiteracy is a huge problem in this country," Flanigan said. "My personal philosophy is that if children learn to read at an early age and develop good reading habits, there’s a potential to eliminate some problems from occurring. There’s a strong correlation between illiteracy and unemployment and a myriad of other problems. It’s sort of a preventive approach."
Flanigan’s inspiration to create the foundation grew out of a love of reading and learning instilled by his parents. The James and Susan Flanigan Scholarship was established by Jim to provide financial assistance to one student each year to attend the University of Notre Dame, Flanigan’s alma mater.
"My parents were a huge influence on me," he said. "They were always reading around the house-books, magazines and newspapers. They taught me the value and the importance of getting a good education and being able to read and comprehend well.
"My mother was a substitute English teacher and just had a tremendous influence on my life. I remember going to the library with my mom as a little kid every week and going through books.
"It’s just a wonderful world for kids to explore and I think if parents today spend time with their kids in the same fashion, they can have that type of influence on their children."
© 1997
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