CINCINNATI — Before doing any interview, Ted Karras always makes sure there is a specific hat on his head. This week was no different when he took time to speak about another honor bestowed upon him as the Bengals’ selection for the annual Walter Payton Man of the Year award.
Putting that “Cincy Hat” on is a way to keep his most important public mission front and center to all those who listen to him. And helping those in need never gets old for Karras. As a matter of fact, he believes helping the people of Cincinnati will be one of his lasting missions after his playing days are over.
It came as no surprise on Thursday when the Bengals announced that the 32-year-old veteran center was receiving the club’s designation as the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award for the second time in three seasons. It is the league’s most prestigious honor, recognizing players who excel on the field and demonstrate a commitment to making a positive impact beyond the game.
“The thing I always say is about the sense he had,” Karras told me of the impact of the Walter Payton name on him. “It’s been such a blessing my life. I will never cease,” Karras told me. “The Cincy Hat will never not exist because I will go hard. I’ll be relentless for my entire life of living in service and love for the IDD community. So this would be a huge boost to our visibility on a national stage, and I think be a lot of validation towards the selflessness and generosity of the Cincinnati community.”
Karras has certainly done that and more in his four years in Cincinnati. What began as a charitable cause for helping intellectually and developmentally disabled adults through the Village of Merici in his hometown of Indianapolis has grown into something much more.
“This whole mission was completely organic, and nothing I set out to do,” Karras said. “I didn’t set out to be a hat guy – that’s for sure – or really a public philanthropist. But I’m blessed with this opportunity, and really it’s the energy and spirit of the city, and I hope we win it all for the for the people of this town.
“I’m really proud of the fact that the Village of Merici was able to double their their footprint of the people they serve. They have a second building. I’m really proud of our two students at UC, Jessica and Mariah, who are thriving. The UC TAP program and IDD center is something very special, and they’ve really grown up as young women, and to see that is brings a tear to my eye. And really, I’m really looking forward to what we’re going to do next. We’re going to build forever. So this this community, is underserved throughout the nation. There’s a humongous need for for apartments and living areas, so there will never not be enough work to do. So we’re gonna go hard forever.”
In Oct. 2024, Karras helped officially launch The Cincy Hat Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing education and infrastructure to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in the Cincinnati area. The initiative further established his long-lasting commitment to supporting adults with IDD, which first became widely publicized in 2022 when he began selling his fan-favorite Cincy Hat to benefit Village of Merici, a living community and service provider based in his hometown of Indianapolis.
“The Cincy Hat Foundation means the world to me,” said Karras. “None of this would be possible without the incredible people of Cincinnati who continue to show up, support, and believe in our mission. Due to that overwhelming generosity, we’re expanding educational opportunities, increasing independence and building affordable infrastructure for adults with IDD here at home. I’m proud of what we’ve built and even more excited for what’s ahead.”
Karras also was the Bengals’ club winner for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year in 2023, and by winning the fan vote in Nationwide’s Charity Challenge that year, he received an additional $35,000 donation for Village of Merici. To date, over 100,000 Cincy Hats have been sold, generating over $3.3 million in revenue. This past year, The Cincy Hat Foundation collaborated with over 150 businesses, nonprofits and schools, which has helped turn a once viral fashion trend into an enduring fundraising mechanism for local initiatives.
Among the foundation’s many notable partnerships is a scholarship commitment through the University of Cincinnati’s Transition and Access Pathways (TAP) program. Beginning this year, Karras is supporting two young women with full-ride scholarships as they pursue a transformative four-year college experience. Inspired by their academic journey and his belief in the power of education, Karras released two special-edition hats titled “The Jessica” and “The Mariah,” with proceeds directly benefitting the TAP program.
The momentum of The Cincy Hat Foundation has allowed Karras to explore opportunities for affordable housing infrastructure in the Cincinnati region. While the ultimate goal remains to build a portfolio of independent living opportunities for adults with IDD, the first development is scheduled to kick off in the spring of 2026 in nearby Madisonville, Ohio. Karras is helping get that project off the ground with a personal $500,000 donation to what will be known as “The Cincy Hat House.”
“Ted has passionately supported adults with intellectual developmental disabilities for his entire 10-year career,” said Matt Renie, Executive Director of The Cincy Hat Foundation. “That passion has reached new heights through our Cincy Hat journey, and he really sees this as his life’s mission — to help provide affordable housing to this underserved group. To see him use his platform for good has been incredibly special.”
Through The Cincy Hat Foundation’s mission, Karras has consistently leveraged his platform as an NFL player, NFLPA executive member and Bengals team captain to help inspire social change. He has generated over $220,000 in personal brand sponsorships in 2025, the entirety of which has gone directly to the foundation.
All 32 club winners will be recognized for their achievements during the week leading up to Super Bowl LX in the Bay Area. The national winner of the 2025 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award presented by Nationwide will be announced during NFL Honors, a primetime awards special airing on Thursday, Feb. 5. What would winning the NFL-wide honor at the Super Bowl mean to him and the “Cincy Hat Foundation”?
Each of this year’s club winners supports a range of causes and initiatives off the field, including uplifting underserved communities, empowering young people to lead healthy lifestyles and many other notable causes. The charitable beneficiary of each team’s club winner will receive $40,000, and the nonprofit chosen by the overall national winner will receive up to $250,000. All funds are donations courtesy of the NFL Foundation and the Nationwide Foundation.
Fans are once again encouraged to participate in Nationwide’s annual Charity Challenge, a social media and online contest that allows fans to show support for their favorite Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year club winner. Fans can vote on X/Twitter by posting #WPMOYChallenge along with the last name/X handle of their chosen player or by voting directly on NFL.com/ManOfTheYear. The charitable beneficiary of the player who receives the most collective hashtag mentions and online votes will win an additional $35,000 donation from Nationwide, with the nonprofit partners of the runner-up and third-place finishers receiving $10,000 and $5,000, respectively. Charity Challenge voting takes place from Dec. 4 through Jan. 5, 2026.
Beginning Week 14 and continuing through the end of the season, Karras along with each of this year’s club winners will wear a special Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year helmet decal in recognition of their accomplishments on and off the field.
For more information about the award, visit NFL.com/ManOfTheYear
