Bears wide receiver Allen Robinson is the team’s nominee for the 2019 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, which recognizes a player for outstanding community service off the field as well as excellence on the field.
Robinson’s Within Reach Foundation aims to provide educational opportunities and resources to low-income Chicago students.
“It’s important to me because growing up, (I benefited from) having both my parents in my life and having them support me a lot, and being fortunate enough to play Little League sports and have some good influences around me,” Robinson said. “Being able to provide the same opportunity with some kids in the inner cities is big. My presence can go a long way, as far as being a voice to the kids, aside from a parent or teacher.”
Robinson’s foundation opened a “Reach for a Book Reading Zone” in Chicago at the Gantz Boys and Girls Club in May, and he also sponsored a shopping spree for 25 kids earlier this month.
“Those were pretty exciting, to see the work actually in place, how the kids can benefit, and to see the excitement on the kids’ faces,” Robinson said.
All 32 team nominees will receive a donation of up to $50,000 in their name to their charity of choice. The winner of the award will receive a $250,000 donation to the charity of his choice.
The award, in its 50th year — it was named after the late Hall of Fame running back in 1999 — will be handed out Feb. 1 in Miami, the night before the Super Bowl at NFL Honors, when the Associated Press reveals its individual award winners.
In his second season with the Bears, Robinson leads the team with 76 receptions for 898 yards and seven touchdowns.
Bears cornerback Charles Tillman was named the 2013 Walter Payton Man of the Year, marking the franchise’s fifth player to be honored with the award. The team’s other winners are Payton (1977), Dave Duerson (1987), Mike Singletary (1990) and Jim Flanigan (2000).
Current players to win the award are Drew Brees, Thomas Davis, Larry Fitzgerald, Jason Witten, Eli Manning and J.J. Watt.
The other nominees this year, in alphabetical order of teams:
Arizona Cardinals: David Johnson
Atlanta Falcons: Ricardo Allen
Baltimore Ravens: Brandon Carr
Buffalo Bills: Lorenzo Alexander
Carolina Panthers: Cam Newton
Cincinnati Bengals: Giovani Bernard
Cleveland Browns: Jarvis Landry
Dallas Cowboys: Travis Frederick
Denver Broncos: Justin Simmons
Detroit Lions: Devon Kennard
Green Bay Packers: Blake Martinez
Houston Texans: D.J. Reader
Indianapolis Colts: Pierre Desir
Jacksonville Jaguars: Calais Campbell
Kansas City Chiefs: Dustin Colquitt
Los Angeles Chargers: Uchenna Nwosu
Los Angeles Rams: Andrew Whitworth
Miami Dolphins: Davon Godchaux
Minnesota Vikings: Kyle Rudolph
New England Patriots: Kyle Van Noy
New Orleans Saints: Terron Armstead
New York Giants: Nate Solder
New York Jets: Jonotthan Harrison
Oakland Raiders: Tahir Whitehead
Philadelphia Eagles: Malcolm Jenkins
Pittsburgh Steelers: Maurkice Pouncey
San Francisco 49ers: Richard Sherman
Seattle Seahawks: Bobby Wagner
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Mike Evans
Tennessee Titans: Ben Jones
Washington Redskins: Nick Sundberg
Associated Press contributed.
