Jacksonville defensive end Arik Armstead is Jaguars’ Walter Payton Award nominee [Video]

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Defensive End Arik Armstead is the Jacksonville Jaguars’ nominee for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award.

The award, named after the legendary Chicago Bears running back who died of cancer at 46 in 1999, recognizes players who have “exhibited excellence on the field and whose passion to impact lives extends beyond the game,” according to a press release.

Armstead was acquired in free agency from the NFC Champions San Francisco 49ers this past offseason. Calais Campbell is the Jaguars’ lone winner of the award four years ago.

“In 2019, he established the Armstead Academic Project (AAP), an initiative that ensures every student, regardless of their socioeconomic status, has direct access to the resources they need to thrive, unlock their potential and achieve their goals,” the release said.

Armstead’s reading initiative, “Storytime with Arik …