HOUSTON — Eli Manning has captured the NFL’s ultimate on-field team award twice.
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He’s now won its greatest off-field honor as well.
Manning and Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald were named co-winners of the 2016 NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year on Saturday night at NFL Honors on the eve of Super Bowl LI between the Falcons and Patriots. Manning is the first player in Giants history to win the prestigious award.
Manning and Fitzgerald won the award, sponsored by Nationwide, over Panthers tight end Greg Olsen, who is a former Wayne Hills High star.
“I think any time you’re mentioned in the same sentence as Walter Payton, that’s a good thing,” the quarterback said Friday morning, before the award was announced. “It’s really an honor to be with Larry and Greg. They are tremendous players, and I’ve read about what they’ve done in their communities.”
The award, named after the Bears’ late Hall of Fame running back, is meant to represent, “the best of the NFL’s commitment to philanthropy and community impact,” according to a December release. “The Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award recognizes a player for his excellence on and off the field.”
Manning was a finalist last year when Lions wide receiver Anquan Boldin received the award. This was the seventh year he has been the Giants’ team nominee. He was nominated in December. All 32 teams nominate one player for the award each season.
Manning works with numerous charities and community groups both in the tri-state area and in Mississippi, where he attended college at Ole Miss.
Manning has worked with the March of Dimes, Guiding Eyes for the Blind, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Tackle Kids Cancer through Hackensack University Medical Center, The Robin Hood Foundation, the American Red Cross, and the Eli and Abby Manning Children’s Clinics at the Blair E. Batson Hospital for Children in Jackson, Miss., according to a team release.
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The children’s hospital is the only hospital in Mississippi devoted exclusively to the care and treatment of sick and injured youngsters. More than 150,000 children from the state’s 82 counties come to Children’s Hospital each year. The Mannings made a five-year commitment to raise $2.5 million for the clinics.
“Helping children is the main focus and concern. Those are the toughest things for you to see, but that’s also what makes you want to help those kids, and those families that are going through it,” Manning said. “It definitely has changed my perspective over the last couple of years, having kids of my own (three daughters with wife Abby).
“I think I used to just look at the child, and say I want to help them. Now, I kind of look at the child and the family. I see it from the parents’ side of it, what they’re going through to have a child that’s sick and in hospital.”
Boomer Esiason is the only other New York player to win the award. He received it in 1995 when he was the Jets’ quarterback. Much of Manning’s charity work is done behind the scenes, as he often requests to visit hospitals and other places privately without media attention.
“It’s not a publicity stunt,” Manning said. “That’s not the purpose. The purpose is to be there with the kids and try to lift their spirits, or talk to the parents, try to make a difference that way, get to know the kids a little bit.”
When asked what winning the award would mean, Manning characteristically downplayed the possibility.
“It’s not like winning a Super Bowl. If you’re just considered, it is good, and it’s good enough,” he said. “It’s not like if you win it you can say, ‘I don’t have to do any more charitable works; I’ve reached my goal.’
“My award is seeing the results in the research, the funding, the children’s smiles and the difference you make in the community. That’s the award. I think for the Giants; they’ve never had a Walter Payton Man of the Year Award winner for the organization. That would be special. Just to be recognized for the works, it’s always nice.”
James Kratch may be reached at jkratch@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JamesKratch. Find our Giants coverage on Facebook.
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