Giovani Bernard Nominated for Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award Posted Dec 12, 2019 Former UNC running back Giovani Bernard is the Cincinnati Bengals’ nominee for the 2019 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, which recognizes an NFL player for outstanding community service activities off the field, as well as excellence on the field. The Bernard Family Foundation’s mission is to give underprivileged children a platform for success. (Cincinnati Bengals)