CLEVELAND — Two days after their 27-14 win over the Houston Texans, the Cleveland Browns honored one of their franchise's best players. On Tuesday, the Browns announced that they have selected left guard Joel Bitonio as their 2022 Walter Payton Man of the Year.
Established in 1970, the Walter Payton Man of the Year award is considered one of the NFL's most prestigious honors. Every season, each of the league's 32 teams selects a player to recognize for their exceptional performance on the field and their dedication to the community.
“While the entire NFL and Browns fans have watched Joel excel on the field for the past nine seasons, we have been extremely fortunate to see first-hand his contributions to our team and Northeast Ohio as an incredibly high-character man, teammate and leader,” Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam said in a statement. “The Walter Payton Man of the Year Award is truly special because it recognizes a player’s passion and dedication to the game and community service, and Joel consistently embodies what this honor represents in every way.”
Added Bitonio: “The honor of being the Walter Payton Man of the Year for the Cleveland Browns is pretty surreal. You see guys like (Browns Legend T) Joe Thomas who have won the award before and you see across the NFL guys like (former Saints QB) Drew Brees, (Cardinals DE) J.J. Watt and people who did things on very grand scales and have been great role models for their team and their community. To be named the Man of the Year for me is pretty special.
“I have been part of the Cleveland community for nine years now. [Giving back] is just something that my mom and my dad instilled in me to take care of the people that take care of you. This community has always taken care of me. No matter where you are in life, you can lend a helping hand, be part of the community and give back, and a lot of times, you give back to help somebody, but those interactions fill you up, as well.
“I look back on my upbringing and the coaches and the people who have been part of my life growing up, and I think it is just a cumulative, ‘Thank you.’ I appreciate it, and let’s see what else we can do to help the community.”
Selected out of Nevada in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft, Bitonio is currently the longest-tenured member of the Browns roster. In his nine seasons in the NFL, the 31-year-old has started 124 games, earning a first-team All-Pro selection in 2021, three second-team All-Pro selections (2018-2020) and four Pro Bowl selections (2018-2021).
Off the field, Bitonio and his wife Courtney have been active in the community, serving as ambassadors for the Greater Cleveland Food Bank. Joel has also participated in a Shop with a Pro event every year since joining the team, personally funding the night for Northeast Ohio youth in each of the past five years, in addition to raising awareness for A Kid Again Ohio throughout the 2022 season.
Bitonio and the other team winners will be highlighted as nominees and recognized for their important work during the weekend leading up to Super Bowl LVII in February. The 2022 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year will be announced during the NFL Honors primetime awards special the Thursday before Super Bowl LVII on NBC.
All 32 of the league's nominees will receive up to a $40,000 donation in their name to their charity of choice. Meanwhile, the winner of the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award will receive up to a $250,000 donation to the charity of his choice with all donations courtesy of the NFL Foundation and Nationwide.
Fans are able to participate in Nationwide's 8th Annual Charity Challenge, a social media campaign designed to support and promote team nominees by voting on Twitter using #WPMOYChallenge followed by their favorite nominee's last name or Twitter handle (#WPMOYChallengeBitonio or #WPMOYChallenge @JoelBitonio).
The player who receives the most unique mentions between Dec. 6 and Jan. 8 will receive a $25,000 contribution to his charity of choice, while the second and third place finishers will receive $10,000 and $5,000 donations More information can be found at nfl.com/manoftheyear.