Giants nominate Dalvin Tomlinson for Walter Payton Man of The Year award

New York Giants nose tackle Dalvin Tomlinson isn’t just a Giant on the field, where he is the rock in the middle of the defense, but he is also a giant in the community.

And it’s because of Tomlinson’s stature outside of the Giants’ facilities that the team has made him their nominee to win the Walter Payton Man of the Year award.

Tomlinson works with a long list of charities, but devotes his time to two in particular in honor of his late parents.

In honor of his father Willie, who passed when Tomlinson was just five years old, Dalvin works with the American Cancer Society as a “Crucial Catch Ambassador.” The Crucial Catch program is a partnership between the American Cancer Society and the NFL which helps promote early screenings for Americans in underserved communities to catch cancer early. He also works to raise money for the American Diabetes Association with the “Team Tackle Initiative” to help raise support and awareness to battle diabetes.

Tomlinson also works with Good Grief in New Jersey and Kate’s Club in Atlanta to help provide support for children and families following the death of a parent or sibling.

“I wish I knew about Good Grief when I was going through the grieving process of losing my parents. I wish I could have gone to one of the Kate’s Club’s camps when I was just a little kid and I lost my dad, or 17-year-old going into my senior year losing my mom, to help with the grieving process,” Tomlinson said. “I felt like those are two programs I know I needed to be behind because I personally went through the pain and the grieving process, and I know how tough it can be. You close down, you don’t want to talk to anyone, and those programs connect you with people who are going through the same thing you’re going through. That just helps you bridge and make new friendships to help you get through the grieving process in a positive way.”

Giants’ head coach Joe Judge spoke up in support of the Giants’ nominee, touting his leadership in the locker room and on the field, as well as his character as a man.

“Dalvin’s a guy who he really puts the team first and he puts his priorities outside of this building in the right order,” said Judge. “Again, he’s another guy who comes from a very strong background in terms of making the right decisions, doing the right things and who he surrounds himself with. He really rubs the right way on the guys in the locker room. He’s a leader, he knows how to put his arm around a guy and pull him aside and talk to him. He’s also not afraid to tell a guy directly in front of someone when they have to go ahead and pick it up. He’s able to do that because of the way he works on a day in and day out basis, and because of the kind of strong character he possesses, guys trust him.”