Walter Payton Man of the Year

TITANS RBDERRICK HENRY

DONATES $10,000 TO NASHVILLE FIREFIGHTER WHO LOST HOME IN FIRE

His 2020 season over, Derrick Henry was already in offseason workout mode in February, preparing for what was ahead.

But the Titans running back stopped in his tracks when he saw a heartbreaking story on his Twitter feed, and he wanted to do something to help.

The beneficiary: Nashville firefighter Jeremy Taylor, a Titans season ticket member and father of four daughters who lost his new home to a large fire.

Taylor was surprised at his fire station with a $15,000 donation — $10,000 from Henry’s ‘Two All’ Foundation, along with a $5,000 contribution from Campbell’s Chunky Soup.

The good deed was prompted by Henry, who took a screenshot of the Twitter post on the story and asked a member of the Titans organization how he could help.

“I saw the tweet and I was just touched by it, losing a home is such a tragic occurrence,” Henry said. “Not only did I see the tweet but I saw that he was a Titans fan and also a first responder. Nashville has been through so much as a community – the tornado, the pandemic going on, and then the Christmas bombing. I just wanted to be able to help someone in need and someone who has been helping everyone else throughout this pandemic.”

Taylor and his family were not in their new home at the time of the early morning explosion and fire on January 30, but they’d moved all their belongings into the White Bluff residence and were preparing to move in after finishing a checklist at the home they’d recently sold.

Taylor, his wife Lauren and their daughters, ages 13, 12, 11, and 8, lost everything in the fire.

“I thank God we weren’t home, and nobody got hurt,” Taylor said.

Taylor said it’s been an emotional time. He’s been buoyed by the support of friends, and fellow firefighters.

Then came the act of kindness from Henry, and Campbell’s.

When Taylor got to work that day, he got a big surprise. After watching a video message from Henry, who explained why he wanted to help, Taylor also received a signed No.22 jersey from the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year in 2020. Titans cheerleaders and others from the organization were on hand for the

check presentation.

“I am blessed, very blessed,” Taylor said. “(This) has definitely been a blessing to my family. I am very overwhelmed. I don’t know what to say.”

Henry said he was more than willing to help.

“I was just touched by what I had seen about Jeremy and his family on Twitter, and just wanted to do anything I could to help them,” Henry said. “I’m very thankful to be able to have Campbell’s come in as well to try to help Jeremy and his family. Just touched by his family and wanted to help Jeremy in his own time of need.”

WALTER PAYTON

MAN OF THE YEAR

When Titans safety Kevin Byard entered the NFL in 2016, he watched the veteran leaders in the locker room, and admired how many of them were so generous in the Nashville community.

It made an impression.

But even before then, the Middle Tennessee State University product had decided he wanted to impact those around him once he made it to the NFL. He’d thought about doing so because of his upbringing, and because of his mother.

In December of 2020, Byard received some recognition for giving back. The fifth-year pro was officially announced as the team’s nominee for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award presented by Nationwide. Considered the league’s most prestigious honor, the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award recognizes an NFL player for outstanding community service activities off the field, as well as excellence on the field.

In nominating Byard for the award, the Titans listed his many endeavors:

• In 2019, Byard and his wife, Clarke, established the Byard Family Legacy Fund (BFLF) to stand in the gap and provide grace to anyone who needs it. In 2020, they did so through two back-to-school events that benefitted more than 100 families in the Nashville area. In partnership with United

Way of Greater Nashville – for whom he is a spokesperson – the allpro safety packed and distributed more than 300 distance learning kits including school supplies, essential hygiene items, backpacks, gift cards and sporting goods. Byard even hand-delivered the kits door-to-door. • In March, Byard assisted the team with tornado clean-up efforts in North Nashville, hauling debris and passing out food and essential items to families whose homes, schools, businesses and churches had been damaged or destroyed. • Following the pandemic, Byard has found ways to continue his community work virtually. He is a member of the team’s player-led social justice committee that hosts Zoom meetings each week with youth and their parents from the YWCA’s Amend program. In these meetings, they talk about issues of race, social justice, equality, police brutality and more. The committee has also recently opened dialogue with Metro Nashville

PD on ways to improve community-police relations and police reform. • In the 2020 season, Byard partnered with the local Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research for the “31 Tackle Challenge.” Fans pledge a monetary amount for each tackle he makes during the season. For each sack, fumble recovery or interception, donations are doubled. Before the pandemic forced them to postpone, Byard and wife were serving as the honorary cochairs for the Rally Foundation’s annual fundraising event, Rally on the Runway.

Byard first became involved with this nonprofit years ago as a volunteer. • Through the Byard Family Legacy Fund (BFLF), Byard hosts four signature events/programs each year – free youth football camps, Thanksgiving delivery and distribution, a Christmas event, and their signature Grace

Grant. The Grace Grant provides financial assistance to people who have fallen on hard times. Families can apply or nominate someone through the BFLF website. • In September of 2019, Byard teamed up with Academy Sports + Outdoors to provide new shoes and coats for the children of the Boys & Girls Club in Smyrna, Tennessee. • Byard previously served as the spokesperson for Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee.

• Byard credits his mother, Artina Stanley, for much of his success. Following a divorce when Byard was in ninth grade, his mother moved with the children from Philadelphia to Atlanta. Although it was a financial struggle, Stanley worked long hours to make sure her children received what they needed. Byard claims he and his older brother “had to grow up really fast” as they helped their mother with taking care of the younger kids in the family. In May 2020, Byard was able to accomplish a goal of helping to purchase his mother her “forever home.” • As the Week 0 NFLPA Community MVP, Byard donated more than 100 meals to families at Jones Paideia Elementary School in Nashville through his Byard Family Legacy Fund and Eat Well Nashville during Thanksgiving.