Arik Armstead, former 49er and Sacramento community pillar, wins NFL’s Man of the Year
Former San Francisco 49er, Elk Grove native and Pleasant Grove High School standout Arik Armstead was named NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year Thursday.
The award, the National Football League’s highest, was announced at the NFL Honors Awards in New Orleans.
Armstead, who signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars before the start of the season, was honored for his work focused on young people’s success in the classroom. In 2019, the former first-round draft choice established the Armstead Academic Project supporting students in Sacramento and the San Francisco Bay area. With Armstead’s move, the project’s work has expanded to Florida.
Armstead, in a statement, said the honor “goes beyond football.”
“This award represents the power of service, the responsibility to uplift others, and the impact we can create through education,” Armstead said. “This recognition is a testament to that work, but there’s still so much more to do. I’m committed to using my platform to create real change — because the work doesn’t stop here.”
NFL star Arik Armstead prepares to throw an autographed ball to fans during a Sacramento KIngs game at Golden 1 Center in 2022.
Providing students with the tools they need to succeed is the project’s mission. Its pledge: “Every student, no matter their socioeconomic status, deserves direct access to the resources they need to thrive.” The project provides schoolchildren “with positive spaces, tools, and academic support to unlock their potential and achieve their goals.”
More than 516,000 youth have been impacted directly or indirectly by the project. Armstead has donated more than $2 million toward its efforts. Community contributors donated some $500,000 more since the project began.
Armstead partnered with affordable housing developer Mercy Housing of California to identify students in underserved communities and implement programs focusing on social-emotional support, STEAM — Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics — programming, and other programs.
Armstead’s work includes his popular “Story Times with Arik Armstead,” which has reached some 2,500 children in 30 classrooms through the reading program and book giveaways.
NFL star Arik Armstead speaks to media on the red carpet at Armstead Academic Project’s Kick Off For Kids Gala in June at the Kimpton Sawyer Hotel ini Sacramento.
It was Armstead’s fifth nomination. He was the 49ers’ nominee for the NFL’s Man of the Year four years running before capturing this year’s award. As a Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year honoree, Armstead will receive a $265,000 donation to the charity of his choice.
“I believe in humanity. I believe that we’re all more alike than we are different and I believe that all of us have the power to be the change that we want to see in our society,” Armstead said in accepting the award. “Let’s define success by a new metric, not by the things that we acquire, but by the people we positively impact.”
Video: 49ers star Arik Armstead reads to Leataata Floyd school children in Sacramento
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