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Di's Walter Payton Tribute
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JACKSONVILLE (Feb. 4, 2005) -- Warrick Dunn, running back for the NFC South division champion Atlanta Falcons, was named the Walter Payton Man of the Year.
Connie Payton, Walter Payton's wife, presented Dunn with his award at a press conference, and NFL vice president of player and employee development and Hall of Famer Michael Haynes made the announcement. In addition, NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue saluted Dunn's honor during his annual Super Bowl news conference.
The Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, named after the legendary Chicago Bears running back who died in 1999, is the only league award that recognizes a player's off-the-field community service as well as his playing excellence.
Dunn joins an esteemed list of past winners that includes 12 members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Recent winners include Will Shields of the Kansas City Chiefs (2003), Troy Vincent of the Buffalo Bills (2002), Jerome Bettis of the Pittsburgh Steelers (2000) and co-winners in 2001 Derrick Brooks of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Jim Flanigan formerly of the Chicago Bears. Dunn, who posted his third career 1,000-yard season, participates in community service with the same fervor he employs on the field. Through his "Warrick Dunn Foundation," Dunn has had the opportunity to positively affect thousands of people in his community.
Through his "Homes for the Holidays" program, Dunn helps single mothers become first-time homeowners by making the down payments on new fully furnished homes. To date, Dunn's program has assisted 52 single mothers and profoundly touched the lives of 135 children and dependents in Atlanta, Tampa and Baton Rouge. Dunn launched the program during his rookie season in 1997, when he made the down payments on four homes in Tampa. His motivation for the program stems from the memory of his mother, Betty Smothers, a Baton Rouge police officer and single parent. She was killed in the line of duty in 1993 before she could ever realize her dream of buying her own home.
"My mom inspired me to do what she did in her life -- help others," said Dunn. "People say I'm giving back, but I think I'm getting a lot more than what I put in. We can all make the world a little better by doing just a little bit with whatever we have to offer. "
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| Warrick Dunn managed to rush for 1,106 yards and nine TDs in between charity events. |
"Warrick is a person who understands his responsibility not only as a professional football player, but as a man and community servant," said Arthur M. Blank, owner and CEO of the Atlanta Falcons. "Every sports team -- and every professional athlete -- should take a page from his book. We are all in a position to step up and be leaders in philanthropy."
Dunn has also received recognition for his contributions off the field from organizations such as the Giants Step Award in Civic Leadership, the John H. Macy Award for Individual Leadership from The National Alliance to End Homelessness, National Center for Black Philanthropy, Henry P. Iba Citizen Athlete Awards, and the NFL Extra Effort Award. In 2001, he was selected as one of Oprah Winfrey's "Angels," made the list of 101 Most Influential Minorities in Sports by Sports Illustrated in 2003 and has been named The Sporting News' Top 75 Good Guys in Sports three times.
The accomplishments of the 32 finalists for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award -- one from each NFL team -- are reviewed by a blue-ribbon panel, which includes Commissioner Tagliabue, SI football writer Peter King, football greats Frank Gifford, Jack Kemp, 2002 winner and current Buffalo Bills star Troy Vincent and Connie Payton.
Dunn will receive the distinctive Gladiator statue, an original art creation by the noted sculptor, Daniel Schwartz. In addition, Dunn's favorite charity will receive a $25,000 donation in his name.
| Walter Payton Man of the Year winners | ||
| Year | Player, Position | Team |
| 2004 | Warrick Dunn, Running Back | Atlanta Falcons |
| 2003 | Will Shields, Guard | Kansas City Chiefs |
| 2002 | Troy Vincent, Defensive End | Philadelphia Eagles |
| 2001 | Jerome Bettis, Running Back | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 2000 |
Derrick Brooks, Linebacker Jim Flanigan, Defensive Line |
Tampa Bay Chicago |
| 1999 | Cris Carter, Wide Receiver | Minnesota Vikings |
| 1998 | Dan Marino, Quarterback | Miami Dolphins |
| 1997 | Troy Aikman, Quarterback | Dallas Cowboys |
| 1996 | Darrell Green, Cornerback | Washington Redskins |
| 1995 | Boomer Esiason, Quarterback | New York Jets |
| 1994 | Junior Seau, Linebacker | San Diego Chargers |
| 1993 | Derrick Thomas, Linebacker | Kansas City Chiefs |
| 1992 | John Elway, Quarterback | Denver Broncos |
| 1991 | Anthony Munoz, Tackle | Cincinnati Bengals |
| 1990 | Mike Singletary, Linebacker | Chicago Bears |
| 1989 | Warren Moon, Quarterback | Houston Oilers |
| 1988 | Steve Largent, Wide Receiver | Seattle Seahawks |
| 1987 | Dave Duerson, Safety | Chicago Bears |
| 1986 | Reggie Williams, Linebacker | Cincinnati Bengals |
| 1985 | Dwight Stephenson, Center | Miami Dolphins |
| 1984 | Marty Lyons, Tackle | New York Jets |
| 1983 | Rolf Benirschke, Kicker | San Diego Chargers |
| 1982 | Joe Theismann, Quarterback | Washington Redskins |
| 1981 | Lynn Swann, Wide Receiver | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 1980 | Harold Carmichael, Wide Receiver | Philadelphia Eagles |
| 1979 | Joe Greene, Defensive Lineman | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 1978 | Roger Staubach, Quarterback | Dallas Cowboys |
| 1977 | Walter Payton, Running Back | Chicago Bears |
| 1976 | Franco Harris, Running Back | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 1975 | Ken Anderson, Quarterback | Cincinnati Bengals |
| 1974 | George Blanda, Quarterback | Oakland Raiders |
| 1973 | Len Dawson, Quarterback | Kansas City Chiefs |
| 1972 | Willie Lanier, Linebacker | Kansas City Chiefs |
| 1971 | John Hadl, Quarterback | San Diego Chargers |
| 1970 | Johnny Unitas, Quarterback | Baltimore Colts |
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