SANTA CLARA — Defensive end Arik Armstead is the 49ers' nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year award for the third year in a row.
Armstead is the first 49ers player to be nominated three consecutive seasons. He learned of the unprecedented news during a visit to Hubbard Media Arts Academy in San Jose.
“It’s definitely a huge honor,” Armstead told NBC Sports Bay Area. “They always do such a great job surprising me and it makes me get emotional each time. The work that I’m trying to accomplish with the help of a lot of others off the field, and being honored [and] recognized for that is just going to make that work even more promising for us.
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“I don’t take it lightly, I’m definitely appreciative.”
The 49ers defensive lineman founded the Armstead Academic Project (AAP) with his wife Melinda to help provide educational programs and supplies to underserved communities in the Bay Area.
The AAP began in Armstead’s hometown of Sacramento, but quickly has grown to include much of the Bay Area with goals to expand further. Armstead has long-term goals of a brick and mortar facility that would provide constant opportunities for students to further their academic development.
Armstead has involved himself with civil leaders of the community to initiate changes to improve educational systems as well as providing after school programs to help youth stay productive and safe.
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Armstead shared with the students the challenge he experienced as a child learning how to read. The Northern California native had resources available to him to help overcome those obstacles and his goal is to provide those to students in need.
“It’s about giving kids opportunities that don’t have them,” Armstead said. “I’ve been so blessed with resources and and success with people around me mentoring me, helping me every step of the way and I feel it’s my responsibility to do the same thing.
“Education and literacy are key, and so if we can equip those kids with those tools I think a lot more kids will be successful.”
Armstead has starting seeing the long-term rewards of his work having begun working with Sacramento youth near the beginning of his NFL career.
“Hopefully when kids get older, hopefully they will come back and say we helped them in some sort of way get to where they want to get,” Armstead said. “That would definitely be support rewarding. But just impact is the most important.
“Taking the time out to impact them, either small or big, even if it’s just a ‘You helped me get through that day. You put a smile on my face.’ Or, ‘You helped me be successful in school.’ Any level of impact, that is why we are doing what we are doing.”
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The WPMOY award was first established in 1970 and was renamed after the late Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton in 1999.
The winner of the award each year receives a $250,000 donated to the winner's charity of choice. All other 31 nominees receive up to $40,000 donated to their charity of choice. All donations are courtesy of the NFL Foundation and Nationwide.