Jamie Squire / Getty Images

Connie Payton and Roger Goodell present Kurt Warner with the 2008 Walter Payton Man of the Year Award.

Allen Steele / Getty Images The NFL Man of the Year Award was named after late Hall of Fame RB Walter Payton in 1999.
Walter Payton Award winners
Year	Player	Team
2008	QB Kurt Warner	Cardinals
2007	DE Jason Taylor	Dolphins
2006	QB Drew Brees, RB LaDainian Tomlinson	Saints, Chargers
2005	QB Peyton Manning	Colts
2004	RB Warrick Dunn	Buccaneers
2003	G Will Shields	Chiefs
2002	DB Troy Vincent	Eagles
2001	RB Jerome Bettis	Steelers
2000	LB Derrick Brooks, DT Jim Flanigan	Buccaneers, Bears
1999	WR Cris Carter	Vikings
1998	QB Dan Marino	Dolphins
1997	QB Troy Aikman	Cowboys
1996	CB Darrell Green	Redskins
1995	QB Boomer Esiason	Jets
1994	LB Junior Seau	Chargers
1993	LB Derrick Thomas	Chiefs
1992	QB John Elway	Broncos
1991	T Anthony Munoz	Bengals
1990	LB Mike Singletary	Bears
1989	QB Warren Moon	Oiler
1988	WR Steve Largent	Seahawks
1987	S Dave Duerson	Bears
1986	LB Reggie Williams	Bengals
1985	C Dwight Stephenson	Dolphins
1984	T Marty Lyons	Jets
1983	K Rolf Benirschke	Chargers
1982	QB Joe Theismann	Redskins
1981	WR Lynn Swann	Steelers
1980	WR Harold Carmichael	Eagles
1979	DL Joe Greene	Steelers
1978	QB Roger Staubach	Cowboys
1977	RB Walter Payton	Bears
1976	RB Franco Harris	Steelers
1975	QB Ken Anderson	Bengals
1974	QB George Blanda	Raiders
1973	QB Len Dawson	Chiefs
1972	LB Willie Lanier	Chiefs
1971	QB John Hadl	Chargers
1970	QB Johnny Unitas	Colts

Before he played in his third Super Bowl, Arizona Cardinals QB Kurt Warner received 2008 Walter Payton Man of the Year honors.

The announcement was made Sunday on the field at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla., before kickoff of Super Bowl XLIII between the Cardinals and Pittsburgh Steelers. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Connie Payton, the late Walter Payton's wife, presented Warner with the award, which acknowledges a player's off-field community service and on-field excellence.

For all of his on-field accomplishments -- including a Super Bowl XXXIV win, two NFL Most Valuable Player awards and four Pro Bowl selections -- Warner's community work remains his biggest source of pride. After visiting flood-ravaged regions in 2008, Warner created a partnership with Habitat for Humanity to sponsor home builds throughout the Midwest. To date, he has raised over $650,000, including a $100,000 personal contribution, $100,000 from his foundation and $100,000 each from the Cardinals and the NFL Disaster Relief Fund.

Warner established the First Things First Foundation in 2001 and has personally contributed more than $1.5 million to fund trips for Make-A-Wish families, home builds for underprivileged families and Punt, Pass and Kick clinics with Special Olympians. Warner is an active participant in league-wide and team-based community programs, including NFL Network's Keep Gym in School initiative and the NFL PLAY 60/American Heart Association What Moves U in-school fitness program.

"I am humbled the Lord has given me such an amazing life to impact others," Warner said in a statement released by the NFL. "Of all the awards given to NFL athletes, the Walter Payton Man of the Year is the one that stands out above the rest to me because of what it represents. When people look back at my career, I want them to see a fierce competitor, but more importantly, I want to be remembered for my consistency of character and the legacy I hope to leave through my First Things First Foundation."

Recent winners of the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award -- named after the late Chicago Bears and Hall of Fame RB -- include current Washington Redskins DE Jason Taylor (2007), New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees and San Diego Chargers RB LaDainian Tomlinson (co-winners in 2006) and Indianapolis Colts QB Peyton Manning (2005).

This year, Warner was among three finalists for the award, including Minnesota Vikings C Matt Birk and Philadelphia Eagles FS Brian Dawkins. Finalists were chosen by a blue-ribbon panel from the 32 team nominees for the award, and all of them will receive a $1,000 donation to the charity of their choice. The three finalists will receive an additional $5,000 donation in their name.

The selection panel is comprised of Goodell, former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue, Pro Football Hall of Fame offensive tackle Anthony Munoz, Sports Illustrated football writer Peter King, football greats Frank Gifford and Jack Kemp, Connie Payton and 2007 winner Taylor.

The winner of the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award will receive the Gladiator statue and a $20,000 donation to a charity in his name.

Warner threw for 4,583 yards and 30 touchdowns with 14 interceptions during the regular season, then led the Cardinals to the Super Bowl with three playoff wins.