Greg Olsen named Man of the Year finalist, again
Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen has been named one of three Walter Payton Man of the Year Award finalist, again…
Greg Olsen has been here before but unfortunately walked away without any hardware for his humanitarian efforts. The Carolina Panthers tight end has incredibly impacted the Charlotte community through his HEARTest Yard Foundation and other service efforts since arriving prior to the 2011 season.
Just last year, Olsen was on stage with fellow Walter Payton Man of the Year finalists Eli Manning and Larry Fitzgerald, both were named recipients as the NFL elected two winners for only the third time in history. After being runner-up last season, it is time for Olsen to receive the award he definitely deserves.
His two key foundations stem from personal relationships with each cause. The HEARTest Yard focuses on “supporting families of children with congenital heart disease treated at Levine Children’s Hospital” and Receiving Hope helps provide “hospitals, doctors and scholars resources to better the lives of those affected by cancer”.
Olsen’s mother is a cancer survivor and he and his wife, Kara, have a son who was born with a serious heart condition, dealing first hand with those who he hopes to help in some way.
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A valiant effort from Panthers fans in last year’s Walter Payton Man of the Year Challenge, where social media hashtags are used to vote for candidates, boosted Olsen’s national recognition of his service. This year, he finished second in the challenge but made up the monetary difference out of his own pocket to ensure his charities received another full benefit from the award.
Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt and Baltimore Ravens tight end Benjamin Watson are the other two finalists who will be on stage with Olsen in Minneapolis one day prior to the Super Bowl.
Watson’s One More Foundation has helped countless individuals and Watt initiated a campaign that raised over $37 million for use following Hurricane Harvey that impacted the Houston area last year. All three have proven their worth both on and off the football field and while each is deserving, Olsen shouldn’t miss being appropriately recognized two years in a row.
Next: Panthers Could Have Had Both RoY Winners
This year’s winner will be revealed February 3 at 9:00pm ET during the NFL Honors Ceremony on NBC.