Bears choose WR DJ Moore as team winner, national nominee for Walter Payton Man of the Year award

The Bears named wide receiver DJ Moore their Walter Payton Man of the Year on Thursday and nominated him for the league-wide award.

The honor is given to a player who excels on the field and makes an impact beyond it, and Moore will wear a commemorative patch on his uniform the rest of the season.

In addition to catching 38 passes for 502 yards and three touchdowns, as well as rushing 14 times for 67 yards and a touchdown, Moore has done extensive charity work through his Moore2Life Foundation and the team. This season, Moore has partnered with organizations like Boys & Girls Club and One Family Illinois to host back-to-school and Thanksgiving events. He also made a surprise visit to an 11-year-old patient at Advocate Children’s Hospital in Oak Lawn.

“We are grateful to be bestowed with the privilege of upholding the legacy of one of our own, Walter Payton, in recognition of the highest community honor within the NFL,” Bears president Kevin Warren said. “We embrace the community impact of DJ that clearly amplifies the legacy of Walter Payton.”

Other nominees include the Ravens’ Derrick Henry, the Packers’ Jordan Love, the Chiefs’ Travis Kelce, the Raiders’ Maxx Crosby, the Buccaneers’ Baker Mayfield and the Commanders’ Bobby Wagner. The NFL has a voting panel for the award and will announce a winner at its annual awards show Feb. 5. All 32 nominees will be honored at the Super Bowl as well.

Cornerback Charles Tillman was the last Bear to win the award, doing so in 2013. Jim Flanigan (2000), Mike Singletary (1990), Dave Duerson (1987) and Payton (1977) are the team’s other past winners. The award named after Payton in 1999.

The Panthers nominated Moore in 2021 as well.

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