Pewaukee's JJ Watt says Man of Year Award is 'so much bigger than just one man'

The Walter Payton Man of the Year Award honors one man every year at the conclusion of the NFL season for his significant positive impact on his community.

But Pewaukee's own JJ Watt, this year's recipient, made certain to let everyone know inside the Cyrus Northrop Memorial Auditorium in Minneapolis at the NFL Honors show on Feb. 3 that the award is about more than just him.

It's about the hundreds of thousands of people who donated to his foundation to help the victims of Hurricane Harvey. It's about the city of Houston. It's about those he called the "true heroes" who braved their lives to help save lives. It's about kids who started lemonade stands in the aftermath.

It's about his family.

And it's about the man who inspired him to begin a foundation while just a college student at the University of Wisconsin.

"I promise it is so much bigger than just one man," Watt said in his acceptance speech during the NFL Honors show held the night before Super Bowl LII. "This award is about the inherent good that lies within humanity."

Watt leads the charge

Watt and the rest of the world saw this goodness last fall when more than $37 million came in from people from all across the world for his Justin J Watt Foundation, all of it funnelling toward hurricane relief efforts.

The 2007 Pewaukee High School graduate's efforts are well-documented. He initially set a goal of $200,000 when he took to Twitter to ask his followers to assist in the wake of Harvey's devastation.

The world certainly responded.

In just 19 days, more than 200,000 donors contributed to this effort. Every time the fundraising goal was met, Watt set a new goal, and each time, the goal kept getting shattered.

Watt, a standout defensive lineman from the University of Wisconsin, has already began distributing this money to organizations to help hurricane victims. Of the $37 million, $31.5 million will go to Americares, a non-profit disaster relief and global health organization; Feeding America; SBP, a nonprofit disaster relief organization; and Save the Children, which gives girls and boys in the United States and around the world a healthy start, education and protection from harm.

The remaining $7 million has been set aside for later distribution.

The award is the latest in Watt's NFL career. On the field, the Houston Texans defensive end already has racked up three NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors, and the 28-year-old has been named to four Pro Bowls during his career. Only Lawrence Taylor has also won three Defensive Player of the Year honors.

RELATED: Pewaukee native and former Badgers standout J.J. Watt named Sports Illustrated's Sportsperson of the Year

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Former coach 'proud'

For Watt's former high school coach, Clay Iverson, what he's doing off the field is even more impressive.

"I'm very proud of him, and it's tremendously deserved," said Iverson, who later went on to coach Mukwonago following a successful run at Pewaukee. "You're happy there's people wanting to make a difference. It gives you hope."

But he's also not surprised Watt has made such a difference on this stage.

"He was always a young man who stood up for people and did what he thought was right," Iverson said. "He's now taken the same approach with a higher platform to affect change."

Iverson said Watt's parents laid the groundwork for JJ and his brothers, Derek and TJ, also both in the NFL.

"Family's first for (the Watts)," Iverson said. "That's not lost on any of them. In this day and age, parents get criticized whether right or wrong on things they do. But it's also nice to magnify it when they do right by their family, and John and Connie have."

Iverson also says that what Watt practices what he preaches.

"It's easy to get in front of a camera, but he's doing the dirty work whether a camera is there or not," Iverson said. "He shows us that we can all do a little bit better. Whether you are famous or not you can make history by affecting lives and standing up for what is right."

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Making a difference

Beyond the monetary help for hurricane victims, Watt pointed out at the NFL Honors show how in the aftermath there were "everyday people stepping up to help out their fellow human when they need it most."

He highlighted during his speech how a police officer battling cancer couldn't get to the police station. Instead, he and his unit got in a boat to rescue thousands of people.

Watt also recognized all the fundraisers that went on across the country.

Many schools, including locally, were assisting by holding food drives and other collections.

"Time and time again we are shown how beautiful and generous the human spirit can be," Watt said. "And in today’s world, it is that spirit that we need to see more of."

RELATED: Pewaukee School District sets up food collection for Watt fundraiser for Hurricane Harvey victims

RELATED: Brookfield Central High School students raise more than $4,000 for hurricane victims

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Foundation laid

At UW, Watt was inspired to launch a foundation when he saw then-Florida State football player Myron Rolle launch his own as a college student.

"I just assumed you had to be a millionaire," Watt said. "I didn’t know any better. Myron showed me what’s possible, and he helped to inspire me."

The foundation, which Watt's mom Connie plays a huge role in maintaining, reaches out to middle schools in Wisconsin and Texas and any other state that has insufficient funding for after-school programs and provides them with proper equipment and resources.

"Because of (Myron's influence) and my mom and our incredible volunteers in my foundation, there are now thousands of kids getting an opportunity to play sports after school that otherwise may not have, and there are now people in Houston who are benefiting from the donations all over the world from the funds that we raised," Watt said.

Now, even more people will benefit from Watt winning the Man of the Year Award.

The NFL Foundation, Nationwide and United Way Worldwide will donate $500,000 in Watt's name with $250,000 donated to his charity of choice and $250,000 in his name to expand the NFL Foundation's Character Playbook across the country.

"The only thing I ask of you is to join me and trying to carry on the legacy that Walter Payton left behind of leaving this world better than we found it," Watt said. "How can I make a difference? No matter how big, no matter small how can I make a difference? When you have your answer, go out and do it."

Social Media reacts to Watt

Many took to social media to salute and congratulate Watt on the honor, including the likes of former President of the United States George H.W. Bush, Iverson, former Wisconsin quarterback Russell Wilson, and his brother, Derek Watt, also in the NFL with the San Diego Chargers.