The NFL has changed its rules for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year to ensure the charities founded by the players it honors are following nonprofit laws, Jason Wolf of the Arizona Republic reports.
“In 2025, compliance with federal and state charitable requirements will be a prerequisite before clubs submit their nominee and his associated charity for the national Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award,” Alexia Gallagher, the NFL’s vice president of philanthropy and executive director of the NFL Foundation, said in a statement to Wolf.
Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, who won the 2022 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award, is the last recipient whose charity was legally compliant at the time of his award. His Faith Fight Finish Foundation is a charitable project backed by the Edward Charles Foundation, which spent 93 cents of every dollar on charity the previous three years, according to federal tax records obtained by Wolf
A five-part series by Wolf exposed widespread waste and mismanagement among nonprofits founded by Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award winners, some of which spend less than 50 cents of every dollar on actual charity. It’s often because players and their families lack sufficient nonprofit guidance and education, per Wolf.
The NFL’s executive vice president of player operations, Troy Vincent, was the 2002 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year. He recently learned from Wolf that his nonprofit had its corporate status revoked more than a decade ago.
In addition, the past two Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award winners, Cam Heyward and Arik Armstead, had charities that were noncompliant with nonprofit laws, per Wolf. Armstead’s charity since has rectified its status, complying with nonprofit laws.
Vincent replied to the link to Wolf’s story, writing, “Appreciate Jason’s effort to make things right with good results.”
The Panthers’ first injury report of the 2025 regular season is heavy on starting offensive linemen.
Left guard Damien Lewis and right guard Robert Hunt were both limited participants in practice on Wednesday. Lewis is dealing with shoulder and ankle issues while Hunt has an injury to his foot.
While both guards did some work, left tackle Ikem Ekwonu was out. Ekwonu had an appendectomy a little more than a week ago and his status is considered day-to-day as the Panthers head toward their Sunday game against the Jaguars.
Cornerback Damarri Mathis was the team’s only other limited participant. Mathis has a knee injury.
Panthers left tackle Ikem Ekwonu remained out of practice on Monday.
Ekwonu had his appendix removed a little over a week ago and the operation has left his status up in the air heading into Sunday’s game against the Jaguars. Panthers head coach Dave Canales called Ekwonu “day-to-day” on Monday and Ekwonu said his condition has been steadily improving since the emergency surgery.
“Definitely feeling better every day,” Ekwonu said, via the team’s website. “The whole experience is a little wild, definitely unexpected. But you know, definitely fortunate that we caught it at the right time and we were able to get it out ASAP.”
Yosh Nijman and Brady Christensen are the backup tackle options in Carolina.
This year’s No. 2 overall pick Travis Hunter is just over a week away from making his debut. And just like he did in college, Hunter is set to play on both offense and defense for the Jaguars.
Jacksonville quarterback Trevor Lawrence said in his Thursday press conference that it’s been “impressive” to see Hunter go both ways over the course of the spring and summer.
“Yeah, just to see the amount of work you have to put in to do that, it’s hard enough to play one way in the NFL, much less two ways,” Lawrence said. “To learn offense, defense, it’s a lot. He’s done a really good job.”
Lawrence noted how well Hunter has done in knowing his assignments for both positions, despite also having to learn the ins and outs of the league as a first-year player.
“It’s his responsibility to know what to do when he steps in the huddle and he’s done a great job with that, but also being conscious of he’s a rookie, he’s got a lot going on, he’s playing both ways,” Lawrence said. “Just trying to help him as much as I can with little reminders or different things with the formations or concepts or whatever. Just trying to give him reminders so it’s not, hey, you’re on your own, pal. Figure it out. And he’s done a good job of knowing it, but as much as we can help him out, I think that is important.”
Hunter, Lawrence, and the Jaguars will open the 2025 season against the Panthers on Sept. 7.
The Panthers may not have left tackle Ikem Ekwonu for their first game of the season.
Head coach Dave Canales said on Wednesday that Ekwonu had an appendectomy last Sunday after complaining of stomach pain over the weekend. The team will monitor him for the next week before making any decisions about his status for Week 1’s game against the Jaguars.
“We’ve seen these things turn around in a little over a week,” Canales said, via David Newton of ESPN.com. “It can be longer. It just depends on each individual’s body, on how you respond to the surgery, how your body heals the right way. So, it’s going to be day-to-day all the way up until the game.”
Canales said Yosh Nijman would be the left tackle if Ekwonu isn’t able to play on September 7.
