New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton has been nominated for the 2024 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award.
Head coach Brian Daboll informed the team of Slayton’s honor on Monday with the official nomination being revealed on Thursday morning.
“It’s hard to even put into words,” Slayton said. “It’s not something that I saw coming at all. Even as a kid, you see all these things the players do, and you never know. Andrew Whitworth won (in 2021) and I remember he got up there and was telling a story about one of his last years in the league. He said a guy came up to him and (said), ‘I was one of those kids at the Boys and Girls Club and I made it big.’ To me, that’s the ultimate. There’s not really much you could do in your career, or anything, that would top that, having someone come up and say, ‘You inspired me and here I am.’ Even if it wasn’t the NFL, that would be the biggest accomplishment in the world.
“I think the award itself speaks to that. That’s why I think it’s a tremendous honor to be a part of it. I’m very grateful and humbled that I was selected.”
Darius Slayton continues to make a lasting impact in our local communities 💙
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— New York Giants (@Giants) December 5, 2024
Running back Saquon Barkley, now with the Philadelphia Eagles, had been the Giants’ nominee in each of the previous two seasons. The team’s only winner is future Hall of Fame quarterback Eli Manning, who took home the honor alongside Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald in 2016.
Each nominee receives a $55,000 donation to a charity of their choice. The winner will receive a $265,000 donation via the NFL Foundation and Nationwide Foundation.
“Obviously, football is not forever,” Slayton said. “But as long as I am able, I will do my best to continue to do the things that we’ve done, and continue to find new things, new ways to help people, new people to help.
“As long as you’re able, you should help, you should give, you should try to help other people do better, those types of things. That will always be something that’s part of my life.”
Slayton is involved with many charities and community events, including the Left-Hand Right-Hand Foundation, which he founded in 2022.
Named after late Chicago Bears running back Walter Payton, the “award recognizes an NFL player for outstanding community service activities off the field as well as excellence on the field” and is considered the most prestigious in the NFL.
