New Orleans means a lot more to Tyrann Mathieu than just where he plays football, and he's now, officially, being recognized for his impact off the field.
The Saints announced this week that he would be named the team's "Man of the Year," which also makes him the team's nominee the Walter Payton Man of the Year award, given annually to the NFL player who "excel on the field and demonstrate a passion for creating a lasting positive impact beyond the game in their communities."
Mathieu was also nominated in 2021 as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs.
“Being the recipient for the New Orleans Saints and getting honored is truly amazing,” Mathieu said in a news release. “Having an impact in my hometown as well as every community I have played in has been a goal of mine since I was drafted. While the honor is great and I would love to win the whole thing, at the end of the day it’s about the work you do within your community to influence people and foster change.”
Mathieu joined his hometown Saints in the 2022 season and has appeared in each of the 29 games since his arrival as an anchor in the team's secondary. The Honey Badger, of course, grew up in New Orleans and attended St. Aug before going on to star at LSU. He's been active in the New Orleans community throughout his NFL career through his own foundation and several annual events, and he has also served as an ambassador for Son of a Saint, a New Orleans nonprofit dedicated to empowering fatherless boys through mentorship and support.
Mathieu and the league's other 31 nominees will wear a decal on their helmets the rest of the 2023 season and will be recognized during the week leading up to Super Bowl LVII. The winner will be announced during the league's honors ceremony on Feb. 8.
Each nominee will receive up to $55,000 to a charity of their choice, and the winner will receive an additional $250,000 donation.
Fans can also participate in Nationwide’s annual challenge. Fans can vote on X (formerly Twitter) by posting #WPMOYChallenge along with the name/handle (@Mathieu_Era) to support Mathieu. Votes can be cast directly on NFL.com/ManOfTheYear. The nominee who receives the most hashtag mentions and votes will win an additional $35,000 donation, with the runner-up receiving $10,000 and the third place $5,000. Mathieu won first place in in 2021. Voting takes place from Dec. 5th to Jan. 8th.
Mathieu and the Saints will next be in actual at the Caesars Superdome in Week 14 when they host the Carolina Panthers.
