The San Francisco 49ers announced that linebacker Curtis Robinson has been selected as the team's winner for the 2025 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award presented by Nationwide for the second consecutive year. The Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award presented by Nationwide is the league's most prestigious honor, recognizing players who excel on the field and demonstrate a commitment to making a positive impact beyond the game.
Inspired by his mother's career as a college professor, Robinson understands the importance of ensuring equal access to quality education, regardless of socioeconomic background. A passionate advocate for the 49ers Foundation's mission to empower and educate youth, Robinson has been a consistent presence, joining Title I students in the 49ers EDU classroom as they explore STEAM concepts through football.
Recognizing education as a key pillar of social justice, Robinson serves on the 49ers Social Justice Player Committee, helping direct over $1 million in team funding to community organizations and mentoring youth from those partners. Supporting the NFL's Inspire Change initiative, he also read to more than 150 elementary students and helped distribute over 1,000 books promoting diversity and inclusion through the team's Read for Justice program.
Guided by the influence of his educator mother and coach father, Robinson values mentorship deeply. He works with Fresh Lifelines for Youth, mentoring teens impacted by the justice system, volunteers with Drive 4 Change in Oakland, teaching golf and promoting life skills through sport, and has joined the team's annual visit to San Quentin State Rehabilitation Center to meet with justice-impacted individuals and their families.
In 2025, Robinson used his Walter Payton Man of the Year $40,000 donation to help fund a new Mobilize Love truck that provides free haircuts in low-income communities. The truck will be used across the Bay Area to meet the needs of children and families in meaningful, tangible ways. This December, he hosted a community event at Ile Omode School in Oakland, where over 100 students enjoyed a warm meal and received haircuts from the Mobilize Love truck. Complimentary eye exams were also provided by Zenni and Safeway provided $250 gift cards to each family at the school.
While the awards reflect his impact, Robinson's motivation is deeply personal. "My parents instilled in me to be involved and give back to the community," Robinson said. "I witnessed the sacrifices they made to ensure I had access to resources I needed to pursue my dreams as a kid. I thought that's what was normal. They set the standard for me to use my platform to pay it forward and bridge the gap for others."
All 32 club winners will be recognized for their achievements during the week leading up to Super Bowl LX in the Bay Area. The national winner of the 2025 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award presented by Nationwide will be announced during NFL Honors, a primetime awards special airing on Thursday, Feb. 5.
Each of this year's club winners supports a range of causes and initiatives off the field, including uplifting underserved communities, empowering young people to lead healthy lifestyles and many other notable causes. The charitable beneficiary of each team's club winner will receive $40,000, and the nonprofit chosen by the overall national winner will receive $250,000. All funds are donations courtesy of the NFL Foundation and the Nationwide Foundation.
Fans are once again encouraged to participate in Nationwide's annual Charity Challenge, a social media and online contest that allows fans to show support for their favorite Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year club winner. Fans can vote on X/Twitter by posting #WPMOYChallenge along with the last name/X handle of their chosen player or by voting directly on NFL.com/ManOfTheYear. The charitable beneficiary of the player who receives the most collective hashtag mentions and online votes will win an additional $35,000 donation from Nationwide, with the nonprofit partners of the runner-up and third-place finishers receiving $10,000 and $5,000, respectively. Charity Challenge voting takes place from December 4 through January 5, 2026.
Beginning Week 14 and continuing through the end of the season, each of this year's club winners, including Curtis Robinson, will wear a special Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year helmet decal in recognition of their accomplishments on and off the field.
For more information about the award, please visit NFL.com/ManOfTheYear.
