The Dallas Cowboys provided a huge recognition to defensive tackle Solomon Thomas ahead of their game against the Detroit Lions. Thomas received an acknowledgment for his efforts beyond the gridiron field. Thomas was officially made the Cowboys’ 2025 nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year for his outstanding commitment to philanthropy and mental-health advocacy work that has defined his career as much as his production on the field.

While the Cowboys locker room celebrated Solomon Thomas for the honor, it was the reaction from head coach Brian Schottenheimer’s wife, Gemmi Schottenheimer, that truly stood out.

Gemmi took to Instagram to share the announcement video by the Cowboys, adding a touching note that quickly captured the attention of fans.

“So proud of you @sollythomas💙,” she wrote.

Thomas, who was the Jets’ nominee in each of his three seasons in New York, now receives his fourth consecutive nomination for the prestigious award, and first as a Cowboy. At the heart of this year’s nomination is his work with The Defensive Line, the nonprofit foundation he co-founded in 2021 with his parents.

The organization, founded in memory of his sister Ella, who died in 2018, aims to eradicate the youth suicide epidemic through education, storytelling, and mental-health support.

The Cowboys surprised him with the news in an emotional video on X, and 2024 nominee Zack Martin was part of it alongside Brian Schottenheimer, Aaron Whitecotton, Dak Prescott, Jake Ferguson, and his family. That kind of moment really ties Thomas to a proud Cowboys tradition, as there are four Dallas players who have won the NFL’s most distinguished humanitarian honor: Roger Staubach, Troy Aikman, Jason Witten, and Dak Prescott.

Since returning to his home state, the Coppell, Texas native has been deeply involved in the community. Thomas hosted his sixth annual free youth football camp at Coppell High School, introducing a new, unique mental-health element.

He opened the camp with a powerful speech about emotional well-being and then guided campers through a meditation before any type of drills or football activity started. The Cowboys’ defensive tackle has spoken publicly about reaching them early because that’s when the mental-health issues start.

“They start as early as late elementary school, fifth, sixth grade. These are the age groups that are coming to my camp,” he said.

Thomas doesn’t confine his compassion to the gridiron. This November, tragedy struck the Cowboys when their teammate Marshawn Kneeland passed away in November at age 24. Days after Kneeland’s demise, he invited teammates to spend time together and give back to the community by assembling bags of food for the homeless.

Through his foundation, mentorship, mental health advocacy, and personal resilience, Thomas has become one of the most influential off-field leaders of the Cowboys, which made Gemmi Schottenheimer proud to amplify her message of support.

The NFL’s prestigious honor

On Thursday, the NFL announced its 32 club Man of the Year winners, with each now an official nominee for the 2025 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award. The honor represents the league’s highest recognition for players who exemplify excellence both on the field and in their communities.

“The Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award is our league’s most revered honor, celebrating players for their excellence both on and off the field,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said. “These 32 men represent the best of the NFL, and the incredible contributions they make to their teams and communities every day continue to keep Walter’s legacy alive.”

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All nominees will be celebrated during Super Bowl week in the Bay Area, with the national winner revealed at NFL Honors on Feb. 5. From empowering youth to advocating for health, each club winner is involved in activities that help build their communities. Each player’s selected charitable beneficiary will receive up to $40,000, while the national winner’s nonprofit will receive up to $250,000.

Fans can help their favorite player win by voting for them using the #WPMOYChallenge. The award was renamed in 1999 after Walter Payton and, since then, has recognized 58 NFL athletes for their outstanding humanitarian service who proudly wear the Man of the Year jersey patch all season long.