The Miami Dolphins announced that linebacker Bradley Chubb has been selected as the team's club winner for the 2025 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award presented by Nationwide. The Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award presented by Nationwide is the league's most prestigious honor, recognizing players who excel on the field and demonstrate a commitment to making a positive impact beyond the game.
Before he played a snap in the NFL, a focus on serving others was paramount to Chubb. Alongside his brother Brandon, he established the Chubb Foundation in 2017 with a mission to activate human potential through pillars of youth mentorship, financial literacy, entrepreneurship and physical education.
Through the Chubb Foundation, as well as alignment with team and partner initiatives, Chubb seeks to connect mentorship, exposure and opportunity to provide new possibilities for young people and help them reach their full potential. The Chubb Foundation's programming has grown as a result of Chubb's efforts and now spans across Georgia, Florida and North Carolina – all places he has called home throughout his upbringing and football career. To date, the Chubb Foundation has supported more than 5,100 youth and their families.
Chubb has also established impactful partnerships with Boys & Girls Clubs and youth organizations in all the regions where he serves. Some of the programming he has implemented through the Chubb Foundation and local Boys & Girls Clubs in the last year include:
- Hosting multiple visits with youth through the Chubb Club Tour. He spends time visiting with the kids, encouraging them and sharing life lessons in line with the pillars of the foundation.
- Establishing his "Moving the Needle" initiative, a four-week financial literacy program designed to empower youth with hands-on money management lessons in saving, budgeting and investing. By implementing the program at the Boys & Girls Club of Broward County, Chubb seeks to create a lasting impact on the teens through principles of financial wellness and building generational wealth.
- Building on his "Moving the Needle: Effecting Change Through Entrepreneurship" campaign, a 10-week curriculum implemented in after-school, summer and weekend programs that challenges students to develop business ideas geared toward positive community impact. The curriculum centers on fundamentals of business planning and effective marketing strategies, culminating in a "Pitch Night" event, where students present their business concepts to a panel of judges in the presence and support of their friends and families.
- Partnering with a club in his hometown of Atlanta, the A.W. Matthews Boys & Girls Club, to launch the "Name of the Game: Chess in Real Life" program. This program aims to teach intangible and strategic life skills through the game of chess. Led by a chess master, the lessons focus on tenets of work ethic, perseverance, critical thinking and patience. When the Dolphins traveled to Atlanta to play the Falcons in October 2025, the Chubb Foundation also hosted 20 youth and mentors from the club for a special game day experience.
- Hosting a back-to-school bash and backpack giveaway at the Lester H. White Boys & Girls Club of Broward County, with the goal of helping every child feel prepared, confident and seen. He also provided haircuts by a local barber on site, led games and activities and provided opportunities for the youth to engage with local law enforcement.
"Every time I walk into a Boys & Girls Club or talk to a group of kids, I see myself at their age — full of potential. That's what this work is about—impacting young people to activate their potential," said Chubb. "The Chubb Foundation is more than programs or events. It's about people, purpose, and planting seeds of belief that will grow for generations."
Chubb hosts annual free youth football camps in his hometown of Atlanta and has expanded his reach – hosting camps for a second year in South Florida, as well as his first camp in Raleigh, North Carolina where he played collegiately at North Carolina State. The Chubb Foundation camps cultivate a high-energy environment focused on football fundamentals and lessons on teamwork, leadership and resilience. Chubb also partners with the team's Junior Dolphins program to host camps and further local youth football and physical education initiatives.
Outside of the work he does through the Chubb Foundation, Chubb also pours into many other team opportunities to engage with the local South Florida community. Both in and out of football season, he consistently spends time visiting local children's hospitals, schools and community organizations. In times of need, he is the first player to raise his hand and volunteer his time and resources. Recently, he provided holiday meals and gifts to Football Unites partners and aligned with a team disaster relief initiative to collect supplies for areas affected by Hurricane Melissa.
This recognition marks Chubb's first career selection as his team's Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year nominee. A two-time Pro Bowler (2020 Denver, 2022 Miami), two-time captain (2022 Denver, 2025 Miami) and the winner of the 2023 Nat Moore Community Service Award, given annually to a Miami Dolphins player recognized for his involvement in the South Florida community, Chubb exemplifies leadership and excellence on and off the field. After entering the league as a first-round draft pick by Denver in 2018, he made an immediate impact on the field, earning a selection to the 2018 PFWA All-Rookie team. He joined the Dolphins via trade in 2022 and totaled 8.0 sacks for the season on the way to earning his second career Pro Bowl selection. In 2023, the Dolphins finished 10th in total defense, the first top-10 finish since 2010. The defense set a franchise record for sacks in a season with 56.0 that year, led by Chubb, who totaled 11.0 sacks. He also tied the NFL lead for most forced fumbles with six. Chubb earned AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors following his performance in Week 15 of the 2023 season and was ranked No. 62 on the NFL Top 100 list in 2024.
After missing the 2024 season with an injury, he made a strong return in 2025, recording a sack in Weeks 1, 2 and 3, becoming the first Dolphins player since 2000 to record a sack in each of the first three games of the year. Chubb currently leads the team with 6.0 sacks through Week 13 and is one of seven players in the NFL with at least 30 tackles, 6.0 sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
"Bradley Chubb embodies everything that Walter Payton and this award stand for – greatness on and off the field and leaving a legacy far greater than oneself," said Dolphins Head Coach Mike McDaniel. "Bradley is a talented player and an exemplary teammate, but most importantly he is a selfless leader. He understands the weight of his platform, and no matter if he is lifting up young players around him in the locker room or young people he interacts with in the community, he is focused on making those around him better. That takes a special person, someone who leads with humility and service, and it is why he is so deserving of this award."
All 32 club winners will be recognized for their achievements during the week leading up to Super Bowl LX in the Bay Area. The national winner of the 2025 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award presented by Nationwide will be announced during NFL Honors, a primetime awards special airing on Thursday, Feb. 5.
Each of this year's club winners supports a range of causes and initiatives off the field, including uplifting underserved communities, empowering young people to lead healthy lifestyles and many other notable causes. The charitable beneficiary of each team's club winner will receive up to $55,000, and the nonprofit chosen by the overall national winner will receive up to $265,000. All funds are donations courtesy of the NFL Foundation and the Nationwide Foundation.
Fans are once again encouraged to participate in Nationwide's annual Charity Challenge, a social media and online contest that allows fans to show support for their favorite Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year club winner. Fans can vote on X/Twitter by posting #WPMOYChallenge along with the last name/X handle of their chosen player or by voting directly on NFL.com/ManOfTheYear. The charitable beneficiary of the player who receives the most collective hashtag mentions and online votes will win an additional $35,000 donation from Nationwide, with the nonprofit partners of the runner-up and third-place finishers receiving $10,000 and $5,000, respectively. Charity Challenge voting takes place from December 4 through January 5, 2026.
Beginning Week 14 and continuing through the end of the season, each of this year's club winners, including Chubb will wear a special Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year helmet decal in recognition of their accomplishments on and off the field.
For more information about the award, please visit NFL.com/ManOfTheYear.
