The Los Angeles Rams have announced left tackle Andrew Whitworth as their nominee for the 2020 Walter Payton Man of the Year Award.
Ever since his arrival as a free agent in 2017, Whitworth has served as a pillar of the team’s culture both on and off the field. His efforts as a leader in the locker room have carried over into the community in and around Los Angeles.
Whitworth was already named as the Rams’ nominee for the Salute To Service Award. Although he may be in the midst of recovering from a knee injury, the veteran remains as focused as ever on helping the community.
Whitworth spoke on what it means to be able to give back, via Chase Issacs of the team’s website:
“The greatest thing in life is to be able to invest in the people around you,” said Whitworth. “I’m always asking myself, ‘What can I do for this community?’ I want to put my arms around them. I want to stand right beside them. It’s never about me, it’s about all of us. It’s about a difference we can make together and how we can inspire each other to be there for one another. As great as it is to have people cheering us on every Sunday, it means the world to me to go out and pay that back. I want to show people that I’m not just an athlete that’s here to play ball, but that I’m here to make a difference. I believe that’s what will stand the test of time.”
As with everything, Whitworth has put the onus on himself to lead by example. He was recently part of the committee of players that oversaw the process of their $750,000 donation to local non-profits.
Whitworth also served as co-host of the 3rd Annual “LA Rams Night for Wishes” charity event. The virtual event raised more than $163,500 to help fulfill the wishes of local children battling life-threatening medical conditions. The 38-year-old recently donated $50,000 to “The Serving Spoon,” after the local Inglewood favorite was on the brink of closure.
The nominees from each team are set to receive a $40,000 donation to a charity of their choice. They will also be recognized in the weekend leading up to Super Bowl LV.
The winner of the award will be announced during NFL Honors and receive a $250,000 donation to the charity of his choice, along with a jersey patch to wear during games.
