New Orleans Saints tackle Terron Armstead has been named the club's 2019 Man of the Year, making him the club nominee for the National Football League Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. The Walter Payton Man of the Year Award is given annually by the NFL honoring a player's community service work as well as his excellence on the field. Team nominees for all 32 clubs have been announced today.
"One of the best things about playing in the National Football League is that it has given me the ability and opportunity to be a role model to young people and to give back to the community," Armstead said. "If there is anything that I can do to make someone's life better and to help them aspire to do more with their lives, I'm committed to doing it."
Armstead has been a cornerstone both on and off the field for the Saints since being selected in the third round (75th overall) in the 2013 NFL Draft out of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, having moved into the starting left tackle spot in Week 16 of his rookie campaign. On the field, he has been selected as a team captain the last two seasons and has played in 72 regular season contests with 68 starts at left tackle, additionally opening six postseason contests. In his first seven campaigns the Saints have been ranked in the top ten offensively each season. In 2018, Armstead was voted as a Pro Bowl starter and a second-team Associated Press All-Pro. In 2019, he has opened 12 games at left tackle, anchoring an offensive line that has given up only 21 sacks, tied for the NFL's fourth-lowest total. Armstead was the team's 2019 nominee for the NFL's Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award.
Off the field, Armstead has been heavily involved in community service both in the New Orleans area and in his hometown of Cahokia, Ill., a community east of St. Louis. Armstead started his own foundation with the mission to empower a generation of young people with the necessary tools needed to become leaders in the community and the world. In New Orleans he has co-sponsored annual school supplies giveaways for local students and been one of the team leaders in donating to and participating in an annual Thanksgiving dinner giveaway event at Dryades YMCA. This past week at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center through his foundation, Armstead hosted over 200 local youth in a "Try-athalon" event where they sampled a variety of sports and activities with Saints players and student-athletes from local universities on hand to serve as counselors. In both locations, Armstead has awarded thousands of dollars in college scholarships to high school student-athletes.
The Saints hosted Day of Sport event with Terron Armstead and the Laureus Foundation in Ochsner Sports Performance Center on December 6, 2019. The event allowed over 200 kids to participate in various sports and fitness activities with Saints players
In Cahokia, Armstead annually sponsors a youth football camp, youth basketball leagues, winter clothing giveaways, back to school supply giveaways and Easter egg hunts. Recently Armstead purchased a 40,000 square foot building in Cahokia, that will serve as a center to provide the community with support in the areas of academics, athletics and providing social services.
Armstead will wear a 'Man of the Year' helmet decal beginning Monday night against the Indianapolis Colts and throughout the remainder of the season in recognition of his efforts on and off the field.
For the second year in a row, all 32 team winners will be highlighted as nominees and recognized for their important work during the weekend leading up to Super Bowl LIV.
The 2019 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year will be announced during NFL Honors, a two-hour primetime awards special to air nationally on Feb. 1, the eve of Super Bowl LIV, on FOX. NFL Honors will be at the Adrienne Arsht Center in downtown Miami.
All 32 nominees will receive a donation of up to $50,000 in their name to their charity of choice. The winner of the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award will receive a $250,000 donation to the charity of their choice. All donations are courtesy of the NFL Foundation and Nationwide.
Fans are encouraged to participate in Nationwide's 5th annual Charity Challenge, a social media campaign designed to support and promote team nominees. Fans can vote on Twitter by using #WPMOYChallenge followed by their favorite nominee's last name. The player whose unique hashtag is used the most between Dec. 12 and Jan. 12 will receive a $25,000 contribution to their charity of choice, while the second and third place finishers will receive $10,000 and $5,000 donations, all courtesy of Nationwide. Hashtag information and official rules can be found at nfl.com/manoftheyear.
More information about the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award can be found at http://www.nfl.com/manoftheyear.
New Orleans Saints left tackle
New Orleans Saints left tackle Terron Armstead held his holiday bike giveaway at the Daughters of Charity/DePaul Community Center on Monday, Dec. 9, 2019.
New Orleans Saints left tackle Terron Armstead held his holiday bike giveaway at the Daughters of Charity/DePaul Community Center on Monday, Dec. 9, 2019.
New Orleans Saints left tackle Terron Armstead held his holiday bike giveaway at the Daughters of Charity/DePaul Community Center on Monday, Dec. 9, 2019.
New Orleans Saints left tackle Terron Armstead held his holiday bike giveaway at the Daughters of Charity/DePaul Community Center on Monday, Dec. 9, 2019.
New Orleans Saints left tackle Terron Armstead held his holiday bike giveaway at the Daughters of Charity/DePaul Community Center on Monday, Dec. 9, 2019.
New Orleans Saints left tackle Terron Armstead held his holiday bike giveaway at the Daughters of Charity/DePaul Community Center on Monday, Dec. 9, 2019.
New Orleans Saints left tackle Terron Armstead held his holiday bike giveaway at the Daughters of Charity/DePaul Community Center on Monday, Dec. 9, 2019.
New Orleans Saints left tackle Terron Armstead held his holiday bike giveaway at the Daughters of Charity/DePaul Community Center on Monday, Dec. 9, 2019.
New Orleans Saints left tackle Terron Armstead held his holiday bike giveaway at the Daughters of Charity/DePaul Community Center on Monday, Dec. 9, 2019.
New Orleans Saints left tackle Terron Armstead held his holiday bike giveaway at the Daughters of Charity/DePaul Community Center on Monday, Dec. 9, 2019.
New Orleans Saints left tackle Terron Armstead held his holiday bike giveaway at the Daughters of Charity/DePaul Community Center on Monday, Dec. 9, 2019.
New Orleans Saints left tackle Terron Armstead held his holiday bike giveaway at the Daughters of Charity/DePaul Community Center on Monday, Dec. 9, 2019.
New Orleans Saints left tackle Terron Armstead held his holiday bike giveaway at the Daughters of Charity/DePaul Community Center on Monday, Dec. 9, 2019.
New Orleans Saints left tackle Terron Armstead held his holiday bike giveaway at the Daughters of Charity/DePaul Community Center on Monday, Dec. 9, 2019.
New Orleans Saints left tackle Terron Armstead held his holiday bike giveaway at the Daughters of Charity/DePaul Community Center on Monday, Dec. 9, 2019.
New Orleans Saints left tackle Terron Armstead held his holiday bike giveaway at the Daughters of Charity/DePaul Community Center on Monday, Dec. 9, 2019.
New Orleans Saints left tackle Terron Armstead held his holiday bike giveaway at the Daughters of Charity/DePaul Community Center on Monday, Dec. 9, 2019.
New Orleans Saints left tackle Terron Armstead held his holiday bike giveaway at the Daughters of Charity/DePaul Community Center on Monday, Dec. 9, 2019.
New Orleans Saints left tackle Terron Armstead held his holiday bike giveaway at the Daughters of Charity/DePaul Community Center on Monday, Dec. 9, 2019.
New Orleans Saints left tackle Terron Armstead held his holiday bike giveaway at the Daughters of Charity/DePaul Community Center on Monday, Dec. 9, 2019.
New Orleans Saints left tackle Terron Armstead held his holiday bike giveaway at the Daughters of Charity/DePaul Community Center on Monday, Dec. 9, 2019.
New Orleans Saints left tackle Terron Armstead held his holiday bike giveaway at the Daughters of Charity/DePaul Community Center on Monday, Dec. 9, 2019.
New Orleans Saints left tackle Terron Armstead held his holiday bike giveaway at the Daughters of Charity/DePaul Community Center on Monday, Dec. 9, 2019.
New Orleans Saints left tackle Terron Armstead held his holiday bike giveaway at the Daughters of Charity/DePaul Community Center on Monday, Dec. 9, 2019.
New Orleans Saints left tackle Terron Armstead held his holiday bike giveaway at the Daughters of Charity/DePaul Community Center on Monday, Dec. 9, 2019.
New Orleans Saints left tackle Terron Armstead held his holiday bike giveaway at the Daughters of Charity/DePaul Community Center on Monday, Dec. 9, 2019.
New Orleans Saints left tackle Terron Armstead held his holiday bike giveaway at the Daughters of Charity/DePaul Community Center on Monday, Dec. 9, 2019.
New Orleans Saints left tackle Terron Armstead held his holiday bike giveaway at the Daughters of Charity/DePaul Community Center on Monday, Dec. 9, 2019.
New Orleans Saints left tackle Terron Armstead held his holiday bike giveaway at the Daughters of Charity/DePaul Community Center on Monday, Dec. 9, 2019.
New Orleans Saints left tackle Terron Armstead held his holiday bike giveaway at the Daughters of Charity/DePaul Community Center on Monday, Dec. 9, 2019.
