Jordan Love has been turning heads this season with his play on the field - but it’s what he’s doing off of it that just earned him one of the NFL’s highest honors. The Green Bay Packers quarterback has been named the team’s 2025 nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, a recognition that goes far beyond touchdowns and stat lines.
And the way the Packers broke the news? Let’s just say it was a moment Love won’t forget.
In a heartfelt surprise orchestrated by the team, Love thought he was stepping into a studio to record a few standard teleprompter reads. But when the screen stayed blank, and his wife, Ronika Stone Love, and mother, Anna Love, walked through the door, the quarterback’s confusion quickly turned into joy.
Anna handed him a card and asked him to read it aloud. The message?
“Congratulations! You’re the Green Bay Packers’ nominee for the 2025 Walter Payton Man of the Year.”
Love’s reaction was pure and genuine: “Crazy! Thank you!
Wow, what a surprise! Y’all got me!”
The Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award isn’t just a feel-good accolade. It’s the league’s most prestigious individual honor, reserved for players who not only shine on Sundays but also commit themselves to meaningful change in their communities. And Love’s resume off the field is every bit as impressive as his growth under center.
Earlier this year, Love launched his own foundation, Hands of 10ve, with a mission that reflects his personal values and passions. The organization focuses on giving kids access to sports, promoting mental health awareness and suicide prevention, and building trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve.
One of the standout programs under that umbrella is 10ve for Cleats, which provides youth athletes with new cleats - a small but powerful gesture that connects Love’s on-field success with real-world impact. For every touchdown he scores, whether through the air or on the ground, a youth team in Wisconsin gets a fresh set of cleats.
But Love’s commitment doesn’t stop there. He’s been active in fundraising efforts for a range of causes, including the Salvation Army of Greater Green Bay, Rawhide Youth Services, and the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation. He’s also taken part in community walks in both Brown County, Wisconsin, and Kern County, California, aimed at raising awareness for suicide prevention and supporting those affected by loss.
In one of the most powerful moments of his year, Love visited the Kern County Youth Detention Center in Bakersfield, where he spoke to at-risk youth about making positive choices. But he didn’t just talk - he backed it up in a big way, surprising each attendee with a $20,000 scholarship toward trade school or college. That’s the kind of impact that sticks.
Love also used the NFL’s My Cause My Cleats campaign to spotlight the Bakersfield Police Activities League (PAL), helping raise funds and awareness for an organization that’s close to home.
The winner of the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award will be announced at the NFL Honors on February 5. Whether or not Love takes home the trophy, his nomination is a testament to the kind of leader he’s becoming - not just in the Packers’ huddle, but in the lives of the people he’s reaching across the country.
This season, Jordan Love is proving that greatness in the NFL isn’t just measured in yards or wins. Sometimes, it’s measured in cleats, scholarships, and the lives you touch when no one’s watching.