Three years after he was one of the stars in the Ravens' Super Bowl XLVII victory, Anquan Boldin picked up a huge personal honor during the NFL's championship weekend.
Boldin, a wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers, was named the 2015 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year. The announcement was made during the NFL Honors prime-time awards show Saturday, on the eve of the Super Bowl.
"The word humbled does not even come close to describing what it feels like to be selected Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year," Boldin said in a statement released by the league. "Walter Payton was a player I idolized as a kid for what he could do on the football field, but he became even more of an inspiration to me as I learned about his legacy as a humanitarian."
The award recognizes a player for his excellence on and off the field. He will be honored before kickoff of Sunday's game by last year's winner, Carolina Panthers inside linebacker Thomas Davis.
Boldin, 35, was a finalist for the award last year. This year, he beat out New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning and New Orleans Saints tight end Benjamin Watson.
Ravens center Matt Birk won the award following the 2011 season.
Boldin, a former teammate of Birk's with the Ravens from 2010 to 2012, will receive a $55,000 donation in his name to the charity of his choice.
Formed in 2004, the Anquan Boldin Foundation aims to expand the educational and life opportunities of underprivileged youth. He and his wife, Dionne, announced a $1 million pledge to increase the impact of the foundation last year.
Source: baltimoresun.com
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