Cincinnati Bengals center Ted Karras won the Walter Payton Man of the Year Charity Challenge after a long fan voting process, becoming the first Bengals player to do so.
With the win, he will have $35,000 awarded to his charity partner, the Village of Merici, which provides opportunities for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in his hometown of Indianapolis.
Karras became the Bengals nominee because of his signature Cincy hat which he started selling in 2022. Since then he has had more than $800,000 in sales, with more than $325,000 going to the Village of Merici. Karras has also matched $100,000 in donations since then.
Karras is a finalist for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award which will be announced Feb. 8 during NFL Honors. If he wins the award, he will get an additional $250,000 donation for the charity of his choice.
YOU DID IT, WHO DEY NATION!
Ted Karras is the @Nationwide #WPMOYChallenge winner 👏 pic.twitter.com/vzOufjE3Dn
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) January 9, 2024
