For Second Straight Year, Bradley Bozeman Is Ravens' Nominee For Walter Payton Man Of The Year Award
OWINGS MILLS, Md. (WJZ) -- The Baltimore Ravens have again nominated offensive lineman Bradley Bozeman for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, recognizing the work of players on and off the field.
Bozeman was also the team's nominee in 2020.
Through their foundation, Bozeman and his wife Nikki have talked with students, from elementary to high school, about the dangers of bullying. At the start of 2020, they set off on a cross-country trip to talk with 12,000 kids in 18 schools in 16 different states, but their trek was cut short by the pandemic.
#ADayInTheLife Today we were nominated for the @Nationwide Walter Payton Man of the Year award to represent the @Ravens and I just wanted to give a little shoutout to someone who I couldn't do this without!#WPMOYChallenge | #ProBowlVote Bradley Bozeman pic.twitter.com/Nzlv0fZNxO
— Bradley Bozeman (@BSBoze) December 7, 2021
Seeing the impacts of the pandemic in the Baltimore area, the Bozemans partnered with Mount Pleasant Ministries in Baltimore to distribute meals every other week to those in need.
According to their foundation's page, Bradley and Nikki Bozeman have partnered with other local organizations to deliver 1.9 million non-perishable and fresh meals.
In July, the couple partnered with the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation, Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Maryland and Baltimore Police Department to form the SYNC Snack Program, providing children in disadvantaged communities with snacks and educational materials, the team said.
Coach John Harbaugh announced Bozeman's nomination at the team's practice facility.
In the video, Bozeman encouraged all his teammates to get involved with the community.
"Find something you're passionate about, find what you love, whether it's talking to kids just to inspire them to do something great--you don't realize what 5 seconds of your life will do for that kid and project them into a different direction," he said.
Coach Harbaugh announces the news to the team ????#WPMOYChallenge | @BSBoze | @Nationwide pic.twitter.com/ukyo6nLSkU
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) December 7, 2021
A 2018 sixth-round pick out of Alabama, Bozeman has played in 58 games as a Raven and hasn't missed a start since 2019. In 2021, he moved from guard to center.
The winner of the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award receives a $250,000 donation to their charity of choice. The other 31 nominees receive a donation of up to $40,000.