Creating his own legacy in the world of sports and impacting so many with his message New York Jets DE Solomon Thomas was named as the New York Jets Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award.
In terms of awards the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award is one of the most prestigious in the league and gives a spotlight on the players that excel on the field and making a positive impact in the community.
Solomon drafted as the #3 overall player in the 2017 NFL Draft, then he eventually landed with the New York Jets.
It was around the time that he got into the NFL that Thomas started The Defensive Line, which is inspired by the loss of his sister Elizabeth Thomas by suicide at the age of 24. It was during Thomas’ rookie season in the NFL when he lost Ella.
Thanks to the encouragement San Francsico 49ers during his time with the franchise, General Manager John Lynch that helped to start The Defensive Line and since then countless lives and funds were raised to help in shining the light of living the life of wellness. Lynch encouraged Thomas to speak up and speak more about what he had went through and how powerful and impactful he can be in being the type of person that stands up and speaks out with the type of message he has.
New York Jets fans are encouraged to check out the video below to see the community related efforts by Solomon Thomas throughout the year….video is compliments of the New York Jets:
Since then, Thomas spent countless hours spreading his message of positivity that every individual holds extraordinary value.
Thomas bringing his unique insights on his combined experience of being an athlete and having dealt with mental health and being more open when it comes time for dealing with the challenges in life.
Solomon is creating a ton of partnerships as thus far he collaborated with the Dak Prescott , The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the Crisis Text Line and the Vibrant Health for the 988 Campaign to bring the message of mental health to a larger and larger scale.
Thomas is very active in the New York Community and is one of the Jets leading by example and is creating a legacy where people can feel more open and honest about some of the journeys they are going through in the world.
“I am truly honored and humbled to be nominated for the Walter Payton Man of the Year award by the New York Jets for the second consecutive year,” said Thomas. “This recognition goes beyond football, reflecting the impact we can make off the field and impact others’ lives with our platform. It’s a privilege to be a part of this team and have a platform to positively impact others. Thank you to the Jets organization, the Tri-state community, my family, and my teammates for this incredible honor.”
“Solomon’s dedication to giving back and serving others encourages everyone around him to strive for change, on and off the field,” said Jets President Hymie Elhai. “The undeniable impact he has made on the Jets organization and the greater community inspires conversations to raise awareness around the importance of mental health. His latest initiative, working with student athletes to create the Mental Health Player of the Month program, is just one of his many efforts to prioritize mental health will create a last impacting on young athletes as they progress in their future and the entire athletic community.”
With the nomination, Thomas is going to wear a Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year helmet decal through the end of the 2023 NFL Season.
For more information on the rest of the NFL nominees along with the award fans are encouraged to click on the link seen here:
For more information on The Defensive Line fans are encouraged to click on the link seen here:
For more information on the New York Jets fans are encouraged to click on the link seen here
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