Prescott wins Payton award; Mahomes MVP
Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys was named the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year on Thursday night at the NFL Honors show.
Prescott is the fourth Cowboys player to receive the league’s top honor, which recognizes an NFL player for outstanding community service activities as well as excellence on the field. Previous Cowboys recipients were Roger Staubach, Troy Aikman and Jason Witten.
“It’s very humbling to be here on this stage, such an honor to be here tonight, in the esteemed company of the other 31 nominated men,” said Prescott, who founded his Faith Fight Finish Foundation after the death of his mother, Peggy Prescott, to colon cancer in 2013. “I just want to say I think the world of you, you have so much respect from me. Congratulations on the nomination and your chance in the years to come, I promise you that.”
In a news release issued after the event, the NFL announced Prescott will receive a donation of $255,000 to a charity of his choice. All other 31 nominees will receive a donation of up to $55,000 in their name to their charity of choice. All donations, courtesy of the NFL Foundation and Nationwide, were increases from $250,000 and $40,000, respectively.
Prescott’s foundation focuses on colon cancer research, bridging the gap between law enforcement and the communities they serve, and mental health and suicide prevention, which honors his brother, Jace, who was lost to suicide in 2020.
Prescott’s foundation is not an independent 501(c)(3) but has a fiscal sponsorship from the Edward Charles Foundation. The collective spent 93 cents of every dollar on charity the last three years, per tax records.
“My foundation work means the world to me so I have the people that I do it with, who helped me start this foundation,” he said, also thanking the league, the Cowboys organization and his teammates, the Payton family and his friends and family.
Former Cardinals coach named to Hall of Fame
Don Coryell, who coached the thenSt. Louis Cardinals from 1973-77 and
went on to lead the San Diego Chargers, was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s class of 2023. The class also included Ronde Barber, Chuck Howley, Joe Klecko, Darrelle Revis, Ken Riley, Joe Thomas, Zach Thomas and DeMarcus Ware.
Coryell’s “Cardiac Cards” teams won back-to-back division titles in 1974-75, and won 10 or more games three times. He was AP NFL Coach of the Year in 1974. His innovative offensive style — which came to be known as “Air Coryell” — continued to flourish in San Diego where he coached through 1986. He was the first coach to win more than 100 games at both the college and NFL level.
“Don Coryell was a leader, an innovator and truly deserving of enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame,” Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill said in a statement. “His impact on the sport was profound, particularly in revolutionizing the passing game that is so prolific today.
“As head coach, he led one of the most successful and exciting periods of Cardinals football. Coach Coryell will always have a special place in our organization’s history and now he will forever have a place in Canton among the game’s all-time greats as well.”
Coryell, who died in 2010 at age 85, was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1999. Coryell passed away in 2010 at the age of 85. He and the class of 2023 will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, on Aug. 5.
Chiefs’ Mahomes named NFL MVP
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was named the Associated Press NFL Most Valuable Player during the NFL Honors show.
Other AP awards:
Coach of the Year: Brian Daboll (Giants)
Comeback Player of the Year: Geno Smith (Seahawks)
Offensive Player of the Year: Justin Jefferson (Vikings)
Defensive Player of the Year: Nick Bosa (49ers)
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Garrett Wilson (Jets)
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Sauce Gardner (Jets)
Assistant Coach of the Year: DeMarco Ryans (49ers)
The NFL bestowed the following awards along with the Payton honor:
Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award: Calais Campbell (Ravens)
Deacon Jones Award: Nick Bosa (49ers)
Jim Brown Award: Josh Jacobs (Raiders)
NFL Fan of the Year: Larry Bevans (Seahawks)