NEW ORLEANS – The NFL announced this evening that Jacksonville Jaguars DE Arik Armstead was named the 2024 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year. The award is the league’s most prestigious honor, recognizing NFL players who have exhibited excellence on the field and whose passion to impact lives extends beyond the game.
The announcement was made during the NFL Honors Awards program, a primetime awards special that aired nationally on FOX this evening ahead of Super Bowl LIX.
Throughout his 10-year career, Armstead has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to serving the local community. In 2019, he established the Armstead Academic Project (AAP), an initiative that ensures every student, regardless of their socioeconomic status, has direct access to the resources they need to thrive, unlock their potential and achieve their goals.
Through AAP, he has committed himself to education, including a focus on improving literacy rates through his reading initiative, “Storytime with Arik Armstead” in Jacksonville as well as his hometown of Sacramento, Calif. and San Francisco. In fall 2024, Armstead and his wife, Mindy, donated $50,000 to the Department of Sound to create the first “Sound Mind” production workshop series for over 60 young people to explore STEAM education and social emotional wellness through AAP.
Since joining the Jaguars last season, he has been active in the Jacksonville community, expanding his reach by participating in the EverBank Touchdowns for Tomorrow program which highlights the importance of financial literacy, demonstrated on the field through football drills. Armstead joined EverBank staff and hundreds of kids from Duval County Public Schools to emphasize the importance of financial education at a young age and to ensure they are setting themselves up for success in the future. During the holiday season, he also volunteered with Blessings in a Backpack, a nonprofit that provides food on weekends and holidays for school-aged children who might otherwise go hungry.
In addition to being a five-time Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year nominee, Armstead has been the recipient of the Perry/Yonamine Unity Award, CBS Bay Area Jefferson Award, the Yours Humanly 2023 Leading with Heart Award and the Boost Collaborative Conference’s Excellence in Leadership Award. Over his career, Armstead has directly impacted over 516,500 youth and contributed more than $2 million.
“Receiving the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award is an incredible honor—one that goes beyond football. This award represents the power of service, the responsibility to uplift others, and the impact we can create through education,” said Armstead. “Through the Armstead Academic Project, my mission has always been to provide students with the resources they need to succeed. This recognition is a testament to that work, but there’s still so much more to do. I’m committed to using my platform to create real change—because the work doesn’t stop here.”
On the field, Armstead has appeared in more than 125 games, including two Super Bowls, and as a starter in more than 95 of them. He has amassed 34.5 sacks and 185 tackles during his career.
As the winner of the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award, Armstead will receive a $265,000 donation to the charity of his choice. All donations are made possible by the NFL Foundation and Nationwide.
Download images/b-roll on Armstead’s community service efforts and Man of the Year nomination.
