Houston Texans’ J.J. Watt, Carolina Panthers’ Greg Olsen, and Baltimore Ravens’ Benjamin Watson were named finalists for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award on Sunday.

Olsen and Watt took to Twitter to express their gratitude for being named a finalist.

In this year’s finalists, there are Georgia ties. Ravens tight end Benjamin Watson attended the University of Georgia before being drafted in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft.

The winner will be announced during NFL Honors, a special to air on Feb. 3 at 9 p.m. on NBC.

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Ohio State receiver Brandon Inniss (left) and quarterback Julian Sayin (center) celebrate the third-ranked Buckeyes' win over top-ranked Texas on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (Jay LaPrete/AP)

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An aerial view captures a large area under construction for a new data center campus on Thursday, May 29, 2025. Developed by QTS, the data center campus near Fayetteville is one of the largest under construction in Georgia. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

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