Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi has been named the team’s nominee for the 2024 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award.
It’s the first time Ogunjobi has been nominated for the award, which is the NFL’s highest individual honor. The award recognizes players for both on-the-field excellence and impacting communities outside football.
The Steelers are the only team with two active recipients of the award. Russell Wilson won it when he was with the Seattle Seahawks in 2020 and Cam Heyward won the award last year.
Heyward is the fifth Steelers player to win the award, following Franco Harris in 1976, Joe Greene in 1979, Lynn Swann in 1981 and Jerome Bettis in 2001.
“It’s an honor and blessing,” Ogunjobi said. “You’ve seen guys who have worn that mantle at the highest level, like Cam who actually won it last year. You see the work that he’s put in and his dedication to serve and to help people. Life is all about helping and giving back. And we have an obligation as professional athletes to do the same.
“I feel blessed to be in this position, and I’m just excited to be able to continue to push this narrative in the right direction.”
Ogunjobi could become the first player of Nigerian descent to win the award. Ogun is the name of the Yoruba god of iron, but his football path didn’t immediately take him to the Steel City. Ogunjobi was raised in North Carolina and played college football at Charlotte, as part of the school’s first recruiting class in the reintroduction of the program in 2013.
In 2017, he became the first Charlotte 49ers player to be selected in the NFL Draft, when he went to the Cleveland Browns in the third round. Ogunjobi spent four seasons in Cleveland and one with the Cincinnati Bengals before singing with the Steelers before the start of the 2022 season.
In three seasons with the Steelers, Ogunjobi has played in 45 games and made 43 starts, collecting 126 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, six sacks, 26 quarterback hits, two passes defended, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.
In addition to his on-field exploits, Ogunjobi has focused his giving efforts on helping battle childhood obesity, along with the American Heart Association, the Urban League and others.
“We’re really proud of the way Larry has given back and embraced the Pittsburgh community,” head coach Mike Tomlin said.
The winner of the award will be announced at the 2025 NFL Honors ceremony during Super Bowl week in February. The award is selected by a panel that includes former winners. Finalists receive a $50,000 donation to a charity of their choice and the winner receives a $250,000 donation.