HOUSTON – The Walter Payton Man of the Year award was created in 1970 as an award that recognizes an NFL player for his excellence on and off the field, according to the NFL.
The first player to win it was Johnny Unitas from the Baltimore Colts. This year, the Houston Texans' JJ Watt is a finalist for the award.
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READ MORE: All eyes on JJ Watt as he's finalist for Walter Payton Man of the Year award
Since then, a new player is honored with the award and the title that accompanies it. According to Pro Football Reference, here's a list of all the recipients:
2016 NFL Eli Manning New York Giants
2016 NFL Larry Fitzgerald Arizona Cardinals
2015 NFL Anquan Boldin San Francisco 49ers
2014 NFL Thomas Davis Carolina Panthers
2013 NFL Charles Tillman Chicago Bears
2012 NFL Jason Witten Dallas Cowboys
2011 NFL Matt Birk Baltimore Ravens
2010 NFL Madieu Williams Minnesota Vikings
2009 NFL Brian Waters Kansas City Chiefs
2008 NFL Kurt Warner Arizona Cardinals
2007 NFL Jason Taylor Miami Dolphins
2006 NFL Drew Brees New Orleans Saints
2006 NFL LaDainian Tomlinson San Diego Chargers
2005 NFL Peyton Manning Indianapolis Colts
2004 NFL Warrick Dunn Atlanta Falcons
2003 NFL Will Shields Kansas City Chiefs
2002 NFL Troy Vincent Philadelphia Eagles
2001 NFL Jerome Bettis Pittsburgh Steelers
2000 NFL Jim Flanigan Chicago Bears
2000 NFL Derrick Brooks Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1999 NFL Cris Carter Minnesota Vikings
1998 NFL Dan Marino Miami Dolphins
1997 NFL Troy Aikman Dallas Cowboys
1996 NFL Darrell Green Washington Redskins
1995 NFL Boomer Esiason New York Jets
1994 NFL Junior Seau San Diego Chargers
1993 NFL Derrick Thomas Kansas City Chiefs
1992 NFL John Elway Denver Broncos
1991 NFL Anthony Munoz Cincinnati Bengals
1990 NFL Mike Singletary Chicago Bears
1989 NFL Warren Moon Houston Oilers
1988 NFL Steve Largent Seattle Seahawks
1987 NFL Dave Duerson Chicago Bears
1986 NFL Reggie Williams Cincinnati Bengals
1985 NFL Dwight Stephenson Miami Dolphins
1984 NFL Marty Lyons New York Jets
1983 NFL Rolf Benirschke San Diego Chargers
1982 NFL Joe Theismann Washington Redskins
1981 NFL Lynn Swann Pittsburgh Steelers
1980 NFL Harold Carmichael Philadelphia Eagles
1978 NFL Roger Staubach Dallas Cowboys
1977 NFL Walter Payton Chicago Bears
1976 NFL Franco Harris Pittsburgh Steelers
1975 NFL Ken Anderson Cincinnati Bengals
1974 NFL George Blanda Oakland Raiders
1973 NFL Len Dawson Kansas City Chiefs
1972 NFL Willie Lanier Kansas City Chiefs
1971 NFL John Hadl San Diego Chargers
1970 NFL Johnny Unitas Baltimore Colts