Dion Dawkins is Buffalo Bills' nominee for Walter Payton Man of the Year
The Walter Payton winner will be announced ahead of the Super Bowl at NFL Honors in February.
Bills offensive tackle Dion Dawkins speaks after receiving the key to the City of Buffalo on Nov. 14 outside City Hall.
Harry Scull Jr., Buffalo News
Dion Dawkins is everywhere in the community, and on Thursday, he found himself on another special list.
Dawkins is the Buffalo Bills' nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year, the highest honor the league can bestow. Every team nominates a player based off both their community service and their performance on the field.
“It's a beautiful honor,” Dawkins said Thursday after practice. “It's a beautiful honor. I can't believe it's been four, right? Like, this is the fourth one, which is insane, but I'm so thankful.”
With his foundation, Dion's Dreamers, Dawkins holds multiple community events every month during the season, and even some in Buffalo during the offseason. Dawkins is a four-time nominee, and he says “of course” each of the consecutive nominations feels different.
“There's different faces,” Dawkins said Thursday. “There's new people that you meet, and when you meet new people, and their faces light up. You know, it's never the same, because every smile is different. And it's an addicting feeling to be present.”
Dawkins finds himself all around Western New York through his community endeavors. In November, he was awarded a key to the city for all he does for Buffalo.
"When I first came to Buffalo, I was just a kid from New Jersey trying to make it in the NFL and trying to impact the people with my style of play, but the city immediately wrapped its arms around me and my family and showed us what real community means," Dawkins said at the time.
"This key represents something so much bigger than football to myself, it represents every kid in the city who dares to dream big, who works hard and who believes that they can make a difference."
Likewise, Dawkins finds his community events to be bigger than just him. He’s made it clear that he does not give back for the recognition, but rather just to be a pillar in the community. On Thursday, Dawkins credited his teammates who come to his events, along with the Bills organization. He believes his nomination reflects the whole team. In return, teammates like cornerback Christian Benford call Dawkins’ example “motivational,” as other players find their own ways to give back.
Next for Dawkins is his now-annual Shnowman Express, where he caravans around the city to drop off gifts at different pre-determined locations for families in need. It’ll just be the latest way he finds himself present in the community.
Earlier this season, Dawkins was awarded the Week 10 Community MVP honors from the NFLPA. Through his "Shnow Day" program, Dawkins treated three local classes to all-expenses-paid field trips, including one to the Niagara Aquarium. That weekly nod means that he additionally will be a candidate for the NFLPA’s Alan Page Community Award.
The Walter Payton winner will be announced ahead of the Super Bowl on Feb. 5 at NFL Honors.
“The Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award is our league’s most revered honor, celebrating players for their excellence both on and off the field,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell in a statement. “These 32 men represent the best of the NFL, and the incredible contributions they make to their teams and communities every day continue to keep Walter’s legacy alive.”