JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Jaguars have nominated OL Tyler Shatley for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award presented by Nationwide, the club announced today. Considered one of the league’s most prestigious honors, the award recognizes the NFL player that best demonstrates outstanding community service and excellence on the field.
“It was an honor to recently share with our team that Tyler is the Jaguars’ 2022 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year nominee,” said Jaguars Head Coach Doug Pederson. “Without exception, everyone welcomed the news and was thrilled for Tyler and his family. Tyler is a terrific teammate and a man of high character and integrity, who long ago established himself as a leader in our building and in the Jacksonville community, so it is fitting that he be recognized for such a prestigious league honor.”
Shatley joined the team in 2014 as an undrafted rookie and is now the longest-tenured Jaguar on the current roster, playing in his ninth season. In his spare time, he supports multiple nonprofits and their work, including teaming up with Feeding Northeast Florida to help combat food insecurity, making holiday toy donations to the children at Ronald McDonald House and spending time with patients at Wolfson Children’s Hospital.
Sponsored By Grace and SeaMark Ranch are two nonprofits in which Shatley invests considerable time and resources. Both Northeast Florida organizations are dedicated to bringing hope and faith to children and families while meeting their physical needs and preparing them for a successful future. Shatley has represented these organizations for several years on his cleats, including this season, during the NFL’s My Cause My Cleats campaign to bring awareness to their causes. For Halloween, he invited 50 kids from Sponsored by Grace to TIAA Bank Field to trick-or-treat in a fun and safe environment, which included a pizza party, Halloween festivities and a haunted house tour.
“Tyler is an outstanding man of faith, husband, and father of his children,” said Ron Armstrong, founder and executive director of Sponsored by Grace. “Over the last two years, he has become an advocate for Sponsored by GRACE and Grounds of GRACE, whether that is through support programs or helping launch our first coffee shop. We would not be where we are today if not for Tyler and his generosity and partnership.”