Washington Commanders star Bobby Wagner delivered an emotional acceptance speech during the NFL Honors on Thursday night.
The NFL hosted its annual end-of-season awards ceremony ahead of Super Bowl LX, with the biggest names in football gathered inside Palace of Fine Arts for the glitzy event to celebrated the prizes.
Among the winners in San Francisco was Wagner with the linebacker taking home the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award.
The 35-year-old has been a consistent threat throughout his career, earning 10 Pro Bowl nods, but it was his work off the field that was recognized on Thursday night.
The award, first presented in 1970 and renamed in 1999 in honor of Walter Payton, recognizes the best player in the league for their extraordinary community commitment in addition to their performance on the gridiron.
And, as he accepted the award, Wagner made sure to acknowledge the two people who shaped him: His parents.
Bobby Wagner delivered an emotional acceptance speech during the NFL Honors
The 35-year-old dedicated his acceptance speech to his mom, Phenia Mae, who died in 2009
Wagner emotionally dedicated the award to his mother, Phenia Mae, whom he lost in 2009 due to complications following a stroke. She was only 47.
His charitable work honoring her legacy long after her passing through financial assistance for stroke research and rehabilitation with the Phenia Mae Fund earned Wagner the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award.
Taking to the stage, Wagner first gave a shoutout to father Bobby Sr. and thanked him because ‘I didn´t realize how hard it was to be a father until I got two kids of my own.’
‘He was kind of the silent person in my corner that doesn’t get the love that he always deserves,’ Wagner said.
Then he turned his emotional speech to his mother.
‘I cannot be up here and not talk about my mom,’ he said. ‘She is and will ever be my rock, she’s the reason why I’m standing up here. She´s the person that had confidence in me when I didn´t even have confidence in myself.’
Wagner shared how he had his only other job for about a month before being dismissed. His mom asked why he was working, to which he said he was trying to contribute to the family.
Her response: ‘Nah, I really feel like you can make it to the league and I want you to focus on that.’
The linebacker honored his late mom as he was awarded Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year
The Washington Commanders star has been named a Pro Bowler 10 times in his career
‘And she said, ‘I got you,” he said. ‘Those words always ring in my ear. Every time I try to help somebody, every time I see somebody in need, I say, ‘I got you.”
‘Somebody is going to be looking up, wondering if they have somebody that says, ‘I got you,’ Wagner said. ‘And I hope that I’m a light.’
Wagner added that those who thank him for his charitable actions should actually be expressing their gratitude to his late mother.
‘Every time y’all see me do something you think is cool,’ he said, ‘just know that it’s her.’
Wagner also revealed that he almost didn’t attend the NFL festivities.
‘I really didn’t think I was going to win this award. I almost didn’t even come to be honest,’ he said, ‘I’m glad I did.’
