NASHVILLE, Tenn. —The Tennessee Titans announced today that tight end Delanie Walker has been named the 2015 Titans recipient of the Walter Payton Man of the Year award. This marks the second time Walker has received the honor after being named the Titans Walter Payton Man of the Year in 2013.
Titans Online looks back at the work of tight end Delanie walker in the greater Nashville community in 2015. (Staff Photos)
One of the main focuses of Walker's community service is in support of Mothers Against Drunk Driving following a horrific family tragedy in February 2013. Alice and Bryan Young, Walker's aunt and uncle, were killed by a drunk driver after watching Walker play in Super Bowl XLVIII as a member of the 49ers. Just a few hours earlier, Walker had hugged Alice and Bryan at the team's postgame party. Walker became determined to raise awareness of the dangers of drunk driving and has become a national spokesperson for MADD.
However, Walker's influence doesn't end there. Last year, he established the Delanie Walker Gives Back Foundation with a mission to provide inner city, low-income and at-risk children with the educational opportunities and resources to reach their full potential and beat the odds.
In June, the foundation hosted its inaugural Celebrity Go-Karting Challenge, raising more than $40,000 to help fund community outreach programs such as Back to School COOL, Delanie's Imagination Stations and College Bound. In September, Walker hosted Titans & T-Bones, raising over $80,000 to begin implementing Delanie's Imagination Stations and reading corners throughout Nashville schools.
Walker is now a finalist for the league-wide 2015 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award that will be awarded during the upcoming Super Bowl week. This prestigious NFL award has been in existence since 1970 and is the only NFL award that honors players who demonstrate outstanding balance in their lives between civic and professional responsibilities. In 1999, the NFL renamed the award after the late Walter Payton as a tribute to his greatness, both on and off the field. Man of the Year candidates were chosen based on guidelines from the NFL that state all candidates should have completed at least three seasons in the NFL and be currently playing in at least their fourth NFL season.
"I am humbled to be named the Tennessee Titans Man of the Year for a second time," said Walker. "Since arriving in Tennessee, I've done my best to represent the team to the best of my abilities both on and off the field. It shows that when you have an opportunity to make a difference in the community, you take advantage of it. I grew up in a community where we needed some of that encouragement and leadership. It means a lot to me to be able to do that in the community that I play for and to try to give these kids a bright future."
"Our family is extremely pleased to have Delanie represent the organization as our 2015 Community Man of the Year," said Titans Co-Chairman of the Board of Directors and Controlling Owner Amy Adams Strunk. "Delanie's work in the community is an inspiration to us all. Our players do amazing work in the local community and Delanie is an exemplary example of that outreach."
TITANS COMMUNITY MAN OF THE YEAR WINNERS SINCE FRANCHISE MOVED TO TENNESSEE IN 1997
1997 - Al Del Greco
1998 - Al Del Greco
1999 - Chris Sanders
2000 - Kenny Holmes
2001 - Jason Fisk
2002 - Kevin Carter
2003 - Kevin Carter
2004 - Kevin Carter
2005 - Steve McNair
2006 - Keith Bulluck
2007 - Keith Bulluck
2008 - David Thornton
2009 - Kyle Vanden Bosch
2010 - Cortland Finnegan
2011 - Cortland Finnegan
2012 - Jared Cook
2013 - Delanie Walker
2014 - Jason McCourty
2015 - Delanie Walker
**
DELANIE WALKER'S COMMUNITY BIO**
In his third season with the Tennessee Titans, this 10-year NFL veteran has proved his value to the team both on and off the field. His receiving stats thru 11 games with Titans are all on pace to set career single season bests in all three categories: 59 catches, 708 yards and three touchdowns. Delanie's positive attitude and dedication to winning have made him a Titans fan favorite. However, when the crowds go home and the locker room empties, Delanie is best known for his spokesperson duties on behalf of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) in an effort to combat driving under the influence.
Alice and Bryan Young, Walker's aunt and uncle, were killed by a drunk driver after watching Walker play in Super Bowl XLVIII as a member of the 49ers. Just a few hours earlier, Walker had hugged Alice and Bryan at the team's postgame party. Walker became determined to raise awareness of the dangers of drunk driving and has become a very active spokesperson for MADD, the nation's largest nonprofit working to protect families from drunk driving, drugged driving and underage drinking.
Walker has represented MADD on both a local and national level, sharing his story with other players, team executives, media and fans across the country. Taking such a stance is not common among young professional athletes but Walker continues to speak brazenly about the dangers of drinking and driving, as well as leading by example. He understands that his voice could save lives.
Walker frequently travels with MADD, sharing and re-sharing his personal story in hopes of influencing the public to drink responsibility.
Leading up to Super Bowl XLIX, Walker donated his time for a national media tour, spreading MADD's message to have a designated driver for Super Bowl-related activities.
In June, he spoke alongside NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell at MADD's national conference in Washington, D.C.
In addition to his national platform with MADD, Walker is a local ambassador for the Tennessee Governor's Highway Safety Office's "Booze It and Lose It" campaign, designed to reduce impaired driving injuries, fatalities and associated economic losses through increased law enforcement efforts and public service announcements.
However, Walker's influence doesn't end there.
Last year, Walker established the Delanie Walker Gives Back Foundation with a mission to provide inner city, low-income and at-risk children with the educational opportunities and resources to reach their full potential and beat the odds.
In June, the foundation hosted its inaugural Celebrity Go-Karting Challenge, raising more than $40,000 to help fund community outreach programs such as Back to School COOL, Delanie's Imagination Stations and College Bound.
In September, Walker hosted Titans & T-Bones, raising over $80,000 to begin implementing Delanie's Imagination Stations and reading corners throughout Nashville schools. He is also planning on hosting students for a shopping excursion during the 2015 holiday season.
Walker's 2015 offseason also included hosting a free youth football camp at McGavock High School in Nashville, drawing more than 170 participants ages 8-14. In July, 100 students received a backpack filled with new school supplies and an education pep talk from Delanie in his second consecutive year hosting the program.
