On Thursday, the NFL unveiled all 32 of its club nominees for the 2025 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award — the league’s most prestigious honor, “recognizing players who excel on the field and demonstrate a commitment to creating a positive impact beyond the game.”

The Atlanta Falcons have named former Clemson star cornerback A.J. Terrell as their nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award.

All 32 nominees will be recognized during the week leading up to Super Bowl LX, and the national winner will be announced during the NFL Honors ceremony/awards show on Feb. 5 (9 p.m., NFL Network/FOX).

In a really cool video released by the Falcons, Terrell was surprised by his brother – Clemson cornerback Avieon Terrell — with the Falcons’ Walter Payton Man of the Year nomination.

“I want to tell you how much I appreciate you. You’re a real mentor and leader to me,” Avieon told his brother.

“No one deserves this more than you. The work that you’re doing on and off the field is being recognized. I just wanted to tell you that you are the Atlanta Falcons’ Walter Payton Man of the Year club nominee.”

Now in his sixth NFL season, Terrell has established himself as an indispensable member of Atlanta’s secondary since being selected by the Falcons in the first round (16th overall) of the 2020 NFL Draft.

A 2021 All-Pro, Terrell has recorded six interceptions, as well as 56 passes defended, across 88 games (all starts) his NFL career so far. Before the 2024 season, he and the Falcons agreed on a four-year, $81 million contract extension, which will keep the 27-year-old under contract with Atlanta through the 2028 season.

A two-time All-ACC selection, Terrell concluded his three-year Clemson career (2017-19) with 107 career tackles (3.5 for loss), 20 pass breakups, six interceptions and two forced fumbles in 44 games (30 starts). He helped Clemson to a 29-1 record in two years as a starter and started all 15 games in his first year as a starter in 2018, scoring the first points of the College Football Playoff National Championship on a pick-six.

You can check out the awesome video below and read about the great work Terrell, an Atlanta native, has done around the community in the following story by Falcons senior reporter Tori McElhaney.

–Photo courtesy of Brett Davis-Imagn Images