NFL Man of the Year Nominees 2020 | Cardinals | NFL.com

Corey Peters

DEFENSIVE LINE

ARIZONA CARDINALS

Demonstrates Excellence on the Field

Corey Peters has been named a team captain more than four times during his NFL and collegiate career. He has also been his team's NFLPA representative three times. These accolades demonstrate who Corey is and how his teammates view him as a leader and a role model on and off the field.

Demonstrates Dedication and Commitment to Community Efforts this Year

Corey started 2020 by partnering with the Kids in Need Foundation (KINF) during Super Bowl LIV week. KINF is a non-profit organization that ensures every child is prepared to learn and succeed in the classroom by providing free school supplies. Corey educated each class and helped deliver backpacks and school supplies to Fisher Elementary in the Miami-Dade County Public School district and helped KINF reach its goal of distributing 10,000 backpacks. 

Due to the impacts of COVID-19, Corey had to pivot to ensure communities were provided extra support during this difficult time. Corey became an ambassador for Feed the Children, a non-profit organization which stays committed to helping families in and out of crises. He helped raise awareness of the organization on Giving Tuesday and continues to provide support through PSAs to increase awareness and help families in need. 

Since Corey arrived in Arizona, he has taken the South Pointe School District under his wing. For the past five years, Corey has hosted a book club at South Pointe Elementary and expanded to South Pointe High School in 2019. Corey visits the campus bi-weekly to mentor students on real-life topics based around content that was presented in his books of choice. This has become an open space where students feel comfortable sharing their ideas while preparing for the challenges ahead. Books and lunch are provided for each session as well as an open line of communication to Corey. This year, Corey pivoted to a virtual book club called 'The Corey Peters Playbook.' Over 50 students signed up online and participated during their time being quarantined. After the final session before the 2020 NFL season started, Corey turned his virtual book club into a partnership with United Way Worldwide and Harvest Compassion Center. Corey teamed up with the South Pointe School District to identify over 150 Title 1 students that were in extra need of assistance during the pandemic. 

A socially distant drive-thru event was set up and they distributed care packages consisting of non-perishable goods, toiletries, detergents, clothes, school supplies, and meals – totaling 9,000 pounds of items. 

For International Literacy Day and NFL Kickoff, Corey partnered with 'Tackle Reading' to host a virtual reading experience expressing the importance of education. Elementary and middle schools nationwide were invited to listen and participate in Corey's virtual session to learn more about his experiences, his education journey, and his advice for going back to school during the pandemic.  

Corey partnered with the NFL and Yahoo! Sports to raise awareness about the importance of voting and how to become a registered voter. The #VotingPlaybook was strategically geared towards his home states of Kentucky and Arizona while #NFLVotes reached his followers on a national level.

Demonstrates Dedication and Commitment to Community Efforts in Years Past

Since 2017, Corey participated in an internal committee and social justice roundtable to listen, learn, and understand how to make changes in areas such as police brutality, prison reform, and the education system. This includes meetings with the Governor, police chiefs, visiting Lewis Prison, and his numerous education programs that he continues to expand. 

In 2018, the Corey Peters 'Lineman Challenge' was established. Each summer, Corey holds a football skills camp specializing in developing offensive and defensive lineman at the high school level. This takes place in his hometowns in AZ, KY, PA, GA and is continuing to grow each year by adding new locations, inviting collegiate scouts, and providing educational tools to youth on and off the field. 

With the South Pointe School District, Corey has hosted an in-person book club for the past five years and participated in additional school events. In November 2019, Corey was the honorary host of the elementary school's Turkey Trot in partnership with St. Vincent de Paul. Corey participated in a day of field activities, announcements, and provided 24 families with a care package of food and hygiene products.

Demonstrates Consistency in Positive Character and Models a Lifestyle of Giving Back

Corey shows up and performs his job every day. Being a 10-year NFL veteran playing in the trenches, it takes consistency and a strong work ethic to succeed every year. Corey is a mentor to his younger teammates and shows them how to navigate their personal brand on and off the field to make a difference. Each philanthropic event, Corey invites his teammates to participate and see the impact that they can make. Corey exemplifies what it means to be a Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year nominee.