Green Bay Packers' Aaron Jones nominated for NFL's Walter Payton Man of the Year

GREEN BAY – Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones, who works as hard off the field as on it, was nominated for the NFL's Walter Payton Man of the Year award for the second year in a row.

Jones was nominated by the Packers for 2022 because of work through his A&A All the Way Foundation, which he founded with his twin brother, Alvin Jr., and his contributions to military families and veterans. The foundation focuses on programs involving children. Both of his parents were career military. His father, Alvin Sr., died in in 2021 at age 57.

"Just to be even mentioned in the same sentence as some of these guys who were nominated or won before is a huge honor. It's something that me and my father talked about, winning this award, so just going to do my best that I can and he'll be smiling down," Jones said in a video on the Packers website.

The Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award recognizes an NFL player for his excellence on and off the field. The award was established in 1970 and was renamed in 1999 after the late Pro Football Hall of Fame Chicago Bears running back Walter Payton. Each team nominates one player who has had a significant positive impact on his community. Two Packers, Bart Starr in 1969 and Jim Flanagan in 2000, are past award winners.

Jones, who joined the Packers in 2017, was nominated in 2021 as well. Last year's recipient was Andrew Whitworth of the Los Angeles Rams.

"We are incredibly proud of (Jones) for the great work he does both on and off the field. His A&A All the Way Foundation has had such an influence on the kids and families it serves," said Packers President and CEO Mark Murphy. "He has also been a devoted contributor to our Packers Give Back efforts, including serving as our Salute to Service spokesperson this year. We are so fortunate to have him in Green Bay. He is an amazing young man and a tremendous role model for all of our players."

The foundation focuses on children's basic needs, providing opportunities for recreation and fitness, and supporting children in military families. The foundation hosted its first-ever charity softball game in Jones' hometown of El Paso, Texas, in addition to hosting its fifth annual free football camp. It also launched Jones' third annual Yards for Shoes Campaign, which donates a pair of shoes to elementary and middle school children for every rushing yard he gains up to 1,000 yards. The shoes are gifted to children at Boys & Girls Clubs throughout Wisconsin.

Jones also was the spokesperson for the Packers' Salute to Service initiative. He took photos with veterans and their service dogs, visited military cadets at Challenge Academy at Fort McCoy, and visited veterans and members of the military at the Patriot K9s of Wisconsin facility and the Packers' Huddle for Heroes event.

He and his brother hosted the 2nd Annual A&A All the Way Foundation Gala in Green Bay to raise money for military families. He handed out free Thanksgiving meals to families in need in Green Bay and El Paso, met with military families who received experiences through the foundation's "Freedom Is" Campaign, and gave away bicycles and holiday gifts to kids in need in Green Bay and El Paso.

The Walter Payton award recipient will be announced during NFL Honors, a primetime awards special to air on NBC on Feb. 9, the Thursday before Super Bowl LVII. All 32 nominees will receive up to a $40,000 donation in their name to their charity of choice. The award recipient will receive a $250,000 donation to the charity of his choice.

Also, each Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee will take part in the Charity Challenge, a social media campaign designed to support and promote team nominees. Fans can vote on Twitter by using #WPMOYChallenge followed by their favorite nominee's last name or Twitter handle. The player whose unique mention is used the most between Dec. 6 and Jan. 8 will receive a $25,000 contribution to his charity of choice, while the second and third place finishers will receive $10,000 and $5,000 donations. Hashtag information and official rules can be found at nfl.com/manoftheyear.

Jones is one of the premier running backs in the NFL. He twice gained more than 1,000 yards in a season and is on pace to do so again this year. In six years with the Packers, Jones scored 43 touchdowns rushing and 16 as a receiver. His 5,010 yards rushing ranks him fourth all time for the Packers, just behind John Brockington, who has 5,024 yards.

Jones will wear a "Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year" helmet decal through the end of the season in recognition of his accomplishments on and off the field.

Contact Richard Ryman at rryman@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @RichRymanPG, on Instagram at @rrymanPG or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RichardRymanPG/.

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Aaron Jones nominated for NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year