Chiefs Will Shields Named NFL's Walter Payton Man of the Year
January 30, 2004 (morning)--5:01 AM  -- www.nfl.com

Kansas City Chiefs Pro Bowl G Will Shields was named the 2003 Walter Payton Man of the Year honoree today by League Commissioner Paul Tagliabue. The announcement, which will be made in Houston, Texas at the commissioner’s annual Super Bowl press conference, will be attended by several members of the Chiefs organization including Founder Lamar Hunt, President Carl Peterson, and teammates such as fellow Pro Bowlers QB Trent Green and RB Priest Holmes.  

“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 Peterson. “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.”  

The award is named after the late Chicago Bears running back, who received the honor himself in 1977 before he passed away in 1999 due to complications from liver disease. In existence since 1970, the award recognizes a player's off-the-field community service as well as his playing excellence on the gridiron. The 6-3, 315 pound Shields is the fourth member of the Red and Gold to be recognized as the NFL’s Man of the Year, joining LB Willie Lanier (1972), QB Len Dawson (1973), and the late LB Derrick Thomas (1993). No other franchise in the league has had more individuals so honored than the Chiefs.  

The Will to Succeed Foundation was established by the Shields’ in 1993 to inspire, guide, and improve the lives of abused, battered and neglected women and children. Programs facilitated by The Will to Succeed Foundation provide direct resources to those individuals, in addition to helping furnish educational tools, opportunities and nurturing experiences to inner city children and women who have little or no access to other assistance.

 “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,” reflects 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.”  

In all, the Will to Succeed Foundation has helped more than 88,000 individuals since its inception. Shields has dedicated both time and finances through his foundation as evident by the numerous organizations he’s touched. Just some of his charitable work includes buying a van for Sheffield Place and Synergy Services, replacing kitchen equipment for the Niles Home for Children, and upgrading the family room at KU Medical Burn Unit.

 The Shields’ are also involved in all aspects of Operation Breakthrough, including: operational support, funding for an NFL Computer Lab, purchasing school supplies and library books, the Adopt-A-Family program, the Seeing a Brighter Future initiative, and hosting a Christmas Party. In addition, he serves as spokesperson for Marillac Center and is active in all outreach programs, purchased land and secured funding for a full-time counselor for Safehome, as well as routinely hosts a “Day of Beauty” for the five Kansas City metro women’s shelters. The Shields’ also serve as spokespersons for Reach Out and Read Kansas City and have donated over 66,000 books to the campaign. Will’s “Team Esteem” program offers Chiefs tickets to students based on their creativity and improvement in essay writing.  

No stranger to accolades for his charitable endeavors, Shields was named the 2001 NFL Good Guy and has been recognized as one of the "99 Good Guys in Sports" on three other occasions (2000, 2002-03) by The Sporting News. The Lawton, Okalahoma native was also presented with the inaugural "Arthur S. Arkush Humanitarian of the Year Award" in 1999 by Pro Football Weekly and has received numerous local decorations for his work in the community.  

Shields, who currently serves as the Chiefs United Way spokesperson, will be given $25,000 from NFL Charities to be donated to the charity of his choice. He also received the distinctive Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year gladiator statue, an original art creation by noted sculptor Daniel Schwartz.  

A blue-ribbon panel, which includes Tagliabue, Sports Illustrated writer Peter King, football greats Frank Gifford and Jack Kemp, 2002 Man of the Year winner Troy Vincent, and Payton's widow, Connie Payton, selected Shields as the winner of the award. He was chosen from a group of 32 finalists, one from each team.

 A team leader on the gridiron, Shields is the elder-statesman of the Chiefs having joined the team as a third-round selection (74th overall) in the 1993 NFL Draft. He has started 175 consecutive games dating back to his second professional contest at Houston (9/12/93), the longest streak in franchise history since 1968. He currently owns the third-longest starting streak among active NFL players behind Brett Favre (189) and Tim Brown (179) while his 175 total starts are the highest total in team history since 1968.

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