ATLANTA (WKBW) — A Buffalo Public Schools and University at Buffalo grad has been named as one of the nominees for the NFL's Walter Payton Man of the Year Award.
Steven Means, a defensive end for the Atlanta Falcons, serves as the team's nominee for the award which honors a player's volunteer and charity work, as well as his excellence on the field.
Means, 30, was born and raised in Buffalo and graduated Grover Cleveland High School before playing college football at the University at Buffalo.
Following a successful career in college, Means was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the fifth round of the 2013 NFL Draft.
Including Tampa Bay and Atlanta, Means has also played for the Baltimore Ravens and Philadelphia Eagles, while serving as a member of the Houston Texans practice squad.
Means is described as one of the leaders on the Falcons Social Justice Committee, helping to educate kids and register voters throughout the Atlanta-area.