Each NFL team announced its candidate for the Walter Payton Man of the Year award on Thursday.
More so than other individual honor, the MVP included, this award tells us a story that’s much larger than football itself. It’s about how players interact with their communities. It’s about altruism and using your platform for good.
Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph is his teams’ candidate for the prestigious award. And the video the Vikings posted on Twitter to pay tribute to Rudolph tells us a story of a man that does so much good within the Minneapolis community.
In fact, his willingness to go above and beyond for those impacted by the trials and tribulations life brings is a testament to the man.
Check out the video and just how much good Mr. Rudolph continues to do. Make sure to have some Kleenex.
You've seen what @KyleRudolph82 can do on the field.
But off the field?
He's touched more lives than you could ever imagine.#WPMOYChallenge Rudolph pic.twitter.com/iTqfY4TIas
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) December 6, 2018
As you can see, the tight end is reading off letters addressed to him from those he’s impacted the most.
The story of a young child named Anton and how Rudolph came into his life at the end is about as heartbreaking as it is uplifting.
At a time when the NFL is in the news for all the wrong reasons, stories like this should also be made available to the masses. We’re in the midst of the holiday season. NFL players do good around their communities year-round.
Obviously, Rudolph is one of many examples. What an inspirational and equally amazing story.