Saquon Barkley has been named the New York Giants’ nominee for the 2022 NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year Award.
Presented by Nationwide, the award is named after Chicago Bears legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer, Walter Payton, and recognizes an NFL player for outstanding community service in addition to excellence on the field.
“Being the recipient for the New York Giants and getting honored is truly amazing,” Barkley said. “It’s something that was a goal of mine when I got drafted. I want to win the whole thing. But it’s not just about winning the award. It’s all about the work you do within the community to try to make an impact and try to make change. I’m very fortunate. I’m very blessed to have the opportunity to play the sport that I love and live out my dream and be able to have an impact on children. That’s something I wanted to do from the moment I stepped on the field and the moment I was drafted by the Giants. To finally be a recipient for them and hopefully the winner for them is something that’s a dream of mine and a goal of mine. Hopefully, I’m able to accomplish it.
“But being honored and being the recipient for the New York Giants is a blessing within itself. If you don’t win the award, I know the things I was able to do in the community and the impact that I’ve been able to have. If someone beats me out for the award, that’s a good thing. That’s a good thing for the world. That’s the only thing I’m about: spreading positivity, spreading good vibes and trying to make a change.”
Barkley, of course, played alongside another Walter Payton Man of the Year Award winner, Eli Manning, who got to wear a specialized patch on his uniform after being recognized.
“That’s my goal by the end of my career, to play a season or seasons with that logo,” Barkley said. “I was kind of jealous when I saw Eli have that logo. I was like, ‘That’s pretty cool.’ And that’s something I want.”
Since being drafted by the Giants, Barkley has been very active within the community. He strongly supports Covenant House New Jersey, which helps young people whose families are impacted by incarceration and who are dealing with homelessness and human trafficking. He also founded the Michael Ann and Saquon Barkley Hope Foundation to honor his grandmother.
“I truly think that even if I wasn’t a football player or a well-known person, I would still do this. I love doing stuff like that,” Barkley said. “I love giving back, and I want my kids to have the same thing — to try to give back to others and to try to have an impact on others because at the end of the day, that’s really what life’s about. You only get this one life and you have to make the most of it. The way you can make the most of it is by also changing and inspiring and having an impact on people as you go. That’s something I want to instill in my kids, and that’s something I want to believe in. Hopefully, they can do the same thing, and hopefully they can do a better job than me.”