Houston Texans’ great JJ Watt was named the recipient of this year’s Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award.
Watt gained global recognition after raising 37-million dollars for Hurricane Harvey relief in just 19 days. He also founded the JJ Watt Foundation, which has provided nearly four-million dollars for after school athletic programs for middle school-aged children.
Ashe accepted the award Watt said, “Everything you do on the field pales in comparison to what you do off the field… At the end of my life, if I'm remembered as a good football player -- and that's all I'm remembered for -- then I did a poor job in my life.”
Watt topped tight ends Gregg Olson (Carolina) and Benjamin Watson (Baltimore) – the other two finalists for Man of the Year.
Watt and former Oilers’ quarterback Warren Moon are the only two Houston players to even win the award.
Established in 1970, the award recognizes a player for his excellence on and off the field, according to the NFL.