BEREA, Ohio – Dec. 4, 2025 – The Cleveland Browns announced that Safety Grant Delpit has been selected as the team's club winner for the 2025 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award presented by Nationwide. The Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award presented by Nationwide is the league's most prestigious honor, recognizing players who excel on the field and demonstrate a commitment to making a positive impact beyond the game.
Delpit has grown into his role off the field as he has exemplified dedication to community engagement through both personal and team-driven initiatives. His commitment goes far beyond the spotlight as he consistently shows up for those who need it most through his own GD Express Foundation and his work with Browns Give Back. Whether funding annual back-to-school events as part of his role as a Stay in the Game! (SITG) Attendance Network ambassador or bringing joy to hundreds of children and families on Christmas Day at Lakeview Terrace, a public housing community serving low-income residents, his actions reflect a rooted belief in equity, dignity, and shared celebration, which he not only funds, but rallies his teammates to be part of. His generosity is tangible as he annually signs hundreds of items to support local fundraisers and charities, to help drive meaningful financial impact for grassroots organizations.
As the Browns nominee he doesn't just participate, he leads by example. His actions reflect a holistic approach to community service: one that blends visibility with humility, generosity with consistency, and advocacy with action. This year alone, he brought the energy of the Super Bowl back home in New Orleans, hosting a football skills camp for high school athletes, followed by a celebrity 7-on-7 tournament, helped lead player participation in the Halloween fashion show featuring children battling cancer, advocates for school attendance through his role with SITG! and emphasizes the importance of being present, not just in the classroom, but in life. This Saturday, he will be hosting a Breakfast with Santa for the Garden Valley Apartment public housing complex in Cleveland which had a massive fire and explosion, which displaced 120 people, including children and families and will be hosting his annual Christmas event on Christmas day.
"Thank you to the Browns organization for honoring me for such an award. Pouring back into the communities that shaped me helps me realize that we are stronger together. The impact is greater when you can bring multiple people to the table," said Delpit. "This honor means everything to me and my family. I'm looking forward to keep inspiring and making a positive impact wherever I can. Thank you to all who have supported us in making a positive impact and I encourage others to join!"
"Grant has really stepped up into his role as a leader on the team and in the community since we drafted him in 2020 and we couldn't be more thrilled to nominate him as the 2025 Cleveland Browns Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year," said Cleveland Browns Managing Partners Dee and Jimmy Haslam. "Through his work as a Stay in the Game! Attendance Network Ambassador, annual Christmas give back events and youth football camps – Grant has exemplified the spirit of Walter Payton, creating a lasting impact off the field while demonstrating the highest level of sportsmanship on the field."
All 32 club winners will be recognized for their achievements during the week leading up to Super Bowl LX in the Bay Area. The national winner of the 2025 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award presented by Nationwide will be announced during NFL Honors, a primetime awards special airing on Thursday, Feb. 5.
Each of this year's club winners supports a range of causes and initiatives off the field, including uplifting underserved communities, empowering young people to lead healthy lifestyles and many other notable causes. The charitable beneficiary of each team's club winner will receive $40,000, and the nonprofit chosen by the overall national winner will receive $250,000. All funds are donations courtesy of the NFL Foundation and the Nationwide Foundation.
Fans are once again encouraged to participate in Nationwide's annual Charity Challenge, a social media and online contest that allows fans to show support for their favorite Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year club winner. Fans can vote on X/Twitter by posting #WPMOYChallenge along with the last name/X handle of their chosen player or by voting directly on NFL.com/ManOfTheYear. The charitable beneficiary of the player who receives the most collective hashtag mentions and online votes will win an additional $35,000 donation from Nationwide, with the nonprofit partners of the runner-up and third-place finishers receiving $10,000 and $5,000, respectively. Charity Challenge voting takes place from December 4 through January 5, 2026.
Beginning Week 14 and continuing through the end of the season, each of this year's club winners, including Grant Delpit will wear a special Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year helmet decal in recognition of their accomplishments on and off the field.
For more information about the award, please visit NFL.com/ManOfTheYear.
About the Cleveland Browns and Browns Give Back:
The Cleveland Browns are committed to championing education and youth football, while also creating equitable opportunities for advancement in our community and throughout Ohio. For more information, visit www.clevelandbrowns.com/brownsgiveback.
About Stay in the Game! Attendance Network:
Launched in 2019 by the Cleveland Browns Foundation, Ohio Department of Education and Workforce and Harvard's Proving Ground, the SITG! Attendance Network, now managed by Battelle, works together to reduce chronic absenteeism by bringing together experts, partners, and communities. Together, Stay in the Game! partners with 220+ districts and impacts more than 600,000 students throughout Ohio. For more information, visit https://stayinthegame.org/
