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HOUSTON (Jan. 30, 2004) -- When Will Shields entered the NFL as the Kansas City Chiefs ' third-round draft choice in 1993, he was determined to be a player who would perform at the highest level, both on the field and in the community.
Seldom has a man more completely realized his goals.
Next week, the Chiefs' outstanding guard will play in his ninth consecutive Pro Bowl. But before then, Shields was named the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year. The award, named after the late Hall of Fame Chicago Bears running back, recognizes a player's off-the-field community service as well as his playing excellence.
The year he entered the league, Shields founded the "Will to Succeed Foundation," an umbrella organization encompassing many innovative charity programs that has helped more than 88,000 people. The foundation is run by Shields and his wife, Senia.
"Because this is for what you do in the community, this is the biggest honor you can get in the NFL," Shields said. "We just want to do our part and do what we can in the community. When we started back in '93 we had a little direction to where we wanted to go and we've seen it grow from year-to-year. To say that you've affected over 80,000 lives -- if you can only affect one that's your goal in life."
The Will to Succeed Foundation programs are numerous and far reaching and effect children, battered women and the underprivileged in any number of different ways. "I don't guess there's a central thread that ties them all together," Shields said. "It's more of an umbrella, being held over a bunch of different things that came to our attention and we felt should be dealt with in some manner.
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| Kansas City's Will Shields has made enormous contributions on and off the field. |
Among the components of the foundation is "Operation Breakthrough," which helps the needs of disadvantaged children served by St. Vincent's Family Center, a day care that hosts more than 500 children. The Shields have donated countless hours and more than $300,000 to the effort. Shields, who serves as the Chiefs' United Way spokesman, is also a spokesman for the Marillac Center for Children, which serves 67 children with emotional and behavior disorder. He helped fund renovations at Sheffield Place, which serves homeless women and their children. He is also involved in a program called "Team Esteem," which rewards students at Argentine Middle School who have improved academically.
Seven of Shield's teammates -- including Trent Green, Priest Holmes and Shawn Barber -- were in attendance when he received the award from Commissioner Paul Tagliabue. So was Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt, Chairman of the Board Jack Steadman and team president/general manager Carl Peterson. Hall of Fame linebacker Willie Lanier, who won the award in 1972, was also on hand.
"Will's off-the-field exploits are certainly as outstanding as his on-the-field accomplishments," Peterson said. "For this organization to have Will Shields is extremely important. He and his wife do all the things you want all of you professional football players to do. Not all are capable of doing it and not all are willing to do it. But it begins with the character of the individual. There's a reason why he's a nine-time Pro Bowler and why he is so generous with his foundation. He comes from a great family.
"From an organization standpoint, we're very proud that Willie Lanier, Len Dawson (1973) and the late Derrick Thomas (1993) have won the award. It's certainly the most prestigious award because it combined a combination of on-the-field and off-the-field success for a player."
Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Troy Vincent won the award in 2002.
Houston, TX -- WILL SHIELDS, a guard for the AFC West division champion Kansas City Chiefs, was named the WALTER PAYTON NFL MAN OF THE YEAR, it was announced today.
NFL Commissioner PAUL TAGLIABUE made the announcement this morning in his annual Super Bowl news conference.
The Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, named after the legendary Chicago Bears running back, is the only League award that recognizes a player’s off-the-field community service as well as his playing excellence.
Shields joins an esteemed list of past winners that includes 12 members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Recent winners include TROY VINCENT of the Philadelphia Eagles (2002), JEROME BETTIS of the Pittsburgh Steelers (2000), and co-winners in 2001 DERRICK BROOKS of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and JIM FLANIGAN of the Chicago Bears. (complete list of winners below).
Shields, who will play in his ninth consecutive Pro Bowl next week, participates in community service with the same fervor he employs on the field. The “Will to Succeed Foundation,” which has developed a number of innovative charity programs, has helped more than 88,000 people since its inception in 1993.
Several major components to the “Will to Succeed Foundation” include, a program called “Operation Breakthrough,” which helps meet the needs of disadvantaged children served by St. Vincent’s Family Center. The day care center hosts more than 500 children and Shields and his wife Senia have personally donated countless hours of service and over $300,000 to the organization. The Shields were also instrumental in the Chiefs Wives, a group of 15 to 18 Chiefs players’ wives, adopting the program as their official charity.
“My motivation for establishing the ‘Will To Succeed Foundation’ started in my early days as a college athlete under the influence of legendary University of Nebraska coach Tom Osborne,” says Shields. “As I entered my sophomore year, Coach Osborne asked me to participate in a mentoring program for youth. Through this experience I learned the value of community service and how one-on-one supportive relationships can positively affect young people. The Will To Succeed Foundation is a project of love, dedication and vision working to touch others' lives, in the process creating a healthier society for us all.”
“Of all the players that we have had here in my 15 years I don’t know of an individual and his wife who have contributed so much – and in so many ways – to the Kansas City community,” says President/GM/CEO Carl Peterson of the Kansas City Chiefs. “On top of his nine Pro Bowl selections, his performance on the field is over-shadowed only by his performance off the field. We sincerely thank Will and Senia, his lovely wife, for all that they do for the Kansas City Chiefs and the National Football League.”
Shields is also a spokesman for the Marillac Center for Children, which serves 67 children with emotional and behavior disorders, and helped fund renovations at Sheffield Place, a facility serving homeless women and their children.
Shields, who serves as the Chiefs United Way spokesman, is also involved in a program called “Team Esteem,” which rewards youths at Argentine Middle School who have improved academically and have shown creativity in essay writing with trips to cultural events and Chiefs games.
The accomplishments of the 32 finalists for the Walter Payton Man of the Year award – one from each NFL team – are reviewed by a blue-ribbon panel, which includes Commissioner Tagliabue, Sports Illustrated football writer Peter King, football greats FRANK GIFFORD, JACK KEMP, 2002 winner and current Philadelphia Eagles star TROY VINCENT and CONNIE PAYTON, wife of Walter Payton.
Shields will receive the distinctive Gladiator statue, an original art creation by the noted sculptor, DANIEL SCHWARTZ. In addition, Shields’ favorite charity will receive a $25,000 donation in their name.
WALTER PAYTON NFL MAN OF THE YEAR WINNERS
2003 - Will Shields, G, Kansas City Chiefs
2002 – Troy Vincent, CB, Philadelphia Eagles
2001 – Jerome Bettis, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers
2000 – Derrick Brooks (Tampa) and Jim Flanigan (Chicago)
1999 – Cris Carter, WR, Minnesota Vikings
1998 – Dan Marino, QB, Miami Dolphins
1997 – Troy Aikman, QB, Dallas Cowboys
1996 – Darrell Green, CB, Washington Redskins
1995 – Boomer Esiason, New York Jets
1994 – Junior Seau, LB, San Diego Chargers
1993 – Derrick Thomas, LB, Kansas City Chiefs
1992 – John Elway, QB, Denver Broncos
1991 – Anthony Munoz, T, Cincinnati Bengals
1990 – Mike Singletary, LB, Chicago Bears
1989 – Warren Moon, QB, Houston Oilers
1988 – Steve Largent, WR, Seattle Seahawks
1987 – Dave Duerson, S, Chicago Bears
1986 – Reggie Williams, LB, Cincinnati Bengals
1985 – Dwight Stephenson, C, Miami Dolphins
1984 – Marty Lyons, T, New York Jets
1983 – Rolf Benirschke, K, San Diego Chargers
1982 – Joe Theismann, QB, Washington Redskins
1981 – Lynn Swann, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
1980 – Harold Carmichael, WR, Philadelphia Eagles
1979 – Joe Greene, DL, Pittsburgh Steelers
1978 – Roger Staubach, QB, Dallas Cowboys
1977 – Walter Payton, RB, Chicago Bears
1976 – Franco Harris, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers
1975 – Ken Anderson, QB, Cincinnati Bengals
1974 – George Blanda, QB, Oakland Raiders
1973 – Len Dawson, QB, Kansas City Chiefs
1972 – Willie Lanier, LB, Kansas City Chiefs
1971 – John Hadl, QB, San Diego Chargers
1970 – Johnny Unitas, QB, Baltimore Colts
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