Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt was named the recipient of the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award at Saturday's NFL Honors show.
Watt helped raise over $37 million for Hurricane Harvey relief efforts in the Houston area.
"J.J. is one of the most selfless, giving and inspiring young men in the NFL and we are proud he is a Houston Texan," Texans owner Robert McNair said in a statement, according to NFL.com's Austin Knoblauch. "During one of Houston's worst disasters, J.J. was our shining light after raising more than $37 million for victims affected by Hurricane Harvey."
The three-time Defensive Player of the Year initially had a goal of $200,000 when announcing his fundraising campaign, but quickly blew past that mark and raised over $37 million in 19 days.
"I cannot thank everyone enough for their support and donations from across the country and around the world," Watt said in October to those who donated to his fundraising campaign.
"You have truly shown what is possible when everyone bands together for one common cause. While we are going to do some truly incredible things with this $37 million to make it stretch as far as possible, it is only one small step in the massive recovery effort that lies ahead. I encourage you to please continue to find organizations to donate to, whether they be some of the ones listed below or others. Houston will bounce back from this and we will rise up stronger than ever."
Watt missed most of the 2017 season with a fractured tibial plateau in his left leg.
