Russell Wilson wins Man of the Year, ex-Seahawks coach Tom Flores to HOF

Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson was honored with the NFL’s Walter Payton Man of the Year award on Saturday night for his work in the community.

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While Wilson was the only current member of the Seahawks to win an award, he wasn’t the only person with ties to the Seahawks honored this weekend. Former Seahawks head coach Tom Flores, whose most successful run in the league came with the Raiders, made the cut for the 2021 Pro Football Hall of Fame class.

Wilson is the first Seahawks player to win Man of the Year since Steve Largent in 1988. Including the award, a $250,000 donation will be made to the Why Not You Foundation that Wilson and his wife Ciara run.

Wilson invoked the words of Payton in his acceptance speech.

“We are stronger together than we are alone…” Wilson said. “To the young boy or girl who has a dream … who wants to make a difference … remember: Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

“Love changes things.”

To give back, to serve, to love, and to care. 💙

To @DangeRussWilson, the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award represents absolute excellence, on and off the field. pic.twitter.com/xjzdQWnP4b

— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) February 7, 2021

Wilson has made a huge impact on the community during his time in Seattle. Shortly after he was drafted by the Seahawks in 2012, he began visiting patients at Seattle Children’s hospital, something he continues to do on an almost weekly basis. He and his wife Ciara’s Why Not You Foundation was founded in 2014, with the goal of empowering change in the world, one individual at a time. The foundation, in partnership with Safeway and Albertsons, has donated more than $9 million to Strong Against Cancer to help fund life-saving immunotherapy treatment.

That’s just a small sampling of Wilson’s accomplishments off the field. You can read more about them in this story from Seahawks.com.

Flores coached the Seahawks from 1992-94, leading Seattle to a combined 14-34 record. He had a storied career both as a player and a coach. He made a Pro Bowl while quarterback for the Oakland Raiders, was the first Hispanic quarterback to win a Super Bowl ring when he was Kansas City’s backup in the 1969 season, and went on to lead the Raiders to two Super Bowl championships as head coach – first in 1980 when they were in Oakland, then in 1983 after the team moved to Los Angeles.

BREAKING: Tom Flores has been elected to the Class of 2021!#PFHOF21 | @Raiders pic.twitter.com/WeFP4p14Bs

— Pro Football Hall of Fame (@ProFootballHOF) February 7, 2021

This article includes contributions from the Associated Press.

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