Quarterback Jordan Love was named the Green Bay Packers' candidate for the 2025 Walter Payton Man of the Year (WPMOY). It recognizes a player's "excellence on and off the field," per the NFL's official website, and is widely considered among football's most prestigious feats.
So, to commemorate such an outstanding accomplishment, the Packers surprised Love with a fittingly special celebration.
The team had his wife, Ronika Stone Love, and mother, Anna Love, surprise him to break the news together. Fortunately for us, the heartfelt, authentic moment was caught on video.
We had to enlist some heavy hitters for this announcement pic.twitter.com/TJtqta6DQk
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) December 4, 2025
Is someone cutting onions? Instances like this are what the league is all about and why we always hear the phrase "it's more than a game" mantra thrown around. You can see that in Love's reaction to having the two most important women in his life next to him as he receives WPMOY honors.
Packers shock Jordan Love with tear-jerking Walter Payton Man of the Year Award announcement
Love thought he was coming in to read from a teleprompter, only to see the Packers call in the "heavy hitters" for a shocking twist. His reaction indicates he was genuinely caught off guard, albeit pleasantly, illustrated by the grin and soft "hello" of the signal-caller.
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"What a surprise this is," Love said, before he read the announcement about his selection for WPMOY. Meanwhile, Ronika and Anna couldn't look any prouder or happier as they stood and watched him.
Nevertheless, Ronika and Anna aren't the only ones who are amazed by Love's ascension as a leader on the gridiron and in the community. Packers head coach Matt LaFleur spoke fondly of the 2020 first-round pick and his maturation over the years:
"[Love's] a tremendous human being. He was definitely raised the right way, and he's got a great support system with his family. But to watch his development, coming in as a young guy to the man he is today, it's really cool to be a part of that journey, to watch him grow and to really embrace what it means to be the quarterback of the Green Bay Packers.""Packers HC Matt LaFleur on Jordan Love
The WPMOY was established in 1970 and renamed in 1999 in honor of the late and great Hall of Fame running back, Walter Payton. Every squad has one representative who "has had a significant positive impact on his community," and then one winner is selected from the 32 club finalists.
Nominees are officially announced starting in Week 14 and will have a "custom WPMOY trophy silhouette helmet decal applied through the end of the season." Moreover, any active players who've earned recognition for this remarkable achievement in years past will have a similar design on the front of their jerseys.