Philadelphia Eagles: Rodney McLeod’s Walter Payton nomination is well deserved
Rodney McLeod wears a lot of hats for the Philadelphia Eagles.
In his first season without longtime partner in crime Malcolm Jenkins, McLeod was named a captain, played every defensive snap before suffering a season-ending injury versus New Orleans, and took on a leadership role the likes of which he has yet to be tasked with as a pro.
Despite almost exclusively playing a traditional single-high free safety role in his first four seasons with the Birds, McLeod played all over Jim Schwartz’s defense in his ninth professional season – playing one snap at free safety, the next in the box, and another still after that as a blitzer lined up in the slot.
While it’s a bit of a mystery as to what role McLeod will play in new defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon’s defensive backfield – though based on his history, it’ll probably be free safety in a predominantly two-deep safety look (more on that here) – one thing that isn’t is just how impactful the 30-year-old has been to the fine people of the City of Brotherly Love and beyond.
McLeod could become the Philadelphia Eagles’ fourth Walter Payton winner.
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The Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award is arguably the most prestigious award a player can earn in their NFL playing career.
Sure, some will point to the MVP, offensive or defensive Player of the Year, Pro Bowls, All-Pros, or even Super Bowl rings as the ultimate honor that can be bestowed on an NFL player, but those are one-dimensional offerings that are dependent on team performances, individual on-field achievements, and on occasion, dumb luck. The Walter Payton Man of the Year award, by contrast, puts statistical achievements on the back burner in favor of how a player parlays their success into community development and charitable endeavors.
Established in 1970 and posthumously renamed after the long-time Chicago Bears running back in 1999, the award is designed to “recognize an NFL player for his excellence on and off the field” and is voted on by a committee from a pool of 32 finalists – one from each team.
The last Eagles player to win the award was Chris Long in 2018 – and justifiably so – and there have been two other players, Troy Vincent and Harold Carmichael, who were also honored in 2002 and 1980, respectably.
Will Rodney McLeod be the fourth Eagles to join that exclusive club? Only time will tell, but his case is certainly strong.
From his foundation “Change Our Future” to his “Game Changers” initiative, the “Everybody Eats” program – a program that provides 40,000 pounds of healthy food to people in need – the “Rise Up to Research” Foundation, and his work in the social justice movements that swept through the country last summer, McLeod does more off the field than many players do on it, and is so nonchalant about his charity work that many a fan may not even know he does it.
Well, if you didn’t know before, you do know.
While McLeod hasn’t been publically campaigning for the award and has only really talked about it when asked, his fellow captain, Carson Wentz, broke his social media silence to publically pledge his support for his fellow Eagles – which, in a roundabout way, drew more attention to the causes in question.
Next. Nick Sirianni not having roster control is a good thing. dark
With roughly a week to go before the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award is officially announced on February 6th on CBS, Philadelphia Eagles fans the world over will wait with baited breathe to see who will have their hard work honored on the eve eve of the biggest football game of the year. While who actually wins the award isn’t particularly important, as all 32 of the league’s nominees are certainly deserving, it’ll certainly be nice to see Rodney McLeod get some well-deserved recognition for his hard work and determination.