NFL Man of the Year Nominees | Patriots | NFL.com

Deatrich Wise Jr.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

EXCELLENCE ON THE FIELD

Deatrich Wise Jr. was chosen by the New England Patriots in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft with the 131st overall selection. He made an immediate impact, appearing in every game as a rookie, making three starts and finishing third on the team with three sacks. His first two seasons culminated in Super Bowl appearances, including a start in Super Bowl LIII in which he helped the Patriots claim their league-leading sixth Super Bowl title. His relentless work ethic is revered, as he is often among the first on the practice field and last to leave, putting in the extra time to diligently hone his skills. For the past three years, Wise has been selected by his teammates as a captain in recognition of the leadership he provides, both on and off the field. Now, in his eighth season, Wise has accumulated 306 tackles, 32 sacks, 11 pass deflections, and five forced fumbles. Furthermore, he's been a key player in six postseason games with three starts, contributing 15 total tackles.

DEMONSTRATES POSITIVE CHARACTER & MODELS A LIFESTYLE OF GIVING BACK

Deatrich often reflects on his upbringing and the impact his parents have had on his desire to help others. He said that "giving back is dear to his heart" because of the values that were instilled in him by his mother and father. The Patriots recognized Deatrich's commitment to the community and named him the 20th annual recipient of the team's prestigious Ron Burton Community Service Award in 2022. After winning the award, Deatrich shared the important life lesson that his father taught him: "Service is the price you pay for your time here on earth." Service is woven into the fabric of Deatrich's core values. It shows up all year long when he routinely participates in community events put together by the team's community relations department. He has developed a reputation for being a consistent and reliable player to attend community events and is a go-to when a player is needed to attend an event. Community members often comment on how kind Deatrich is. He truly leaves a mark on every room he enters with his positive and uplifting attitude. Through his unwavering commitment to giving back, Deatrich is making an intangible impact. On the field, Deatrich has earned the respect and admiration of his coaches and teammates alike through his hard work, determination, and leadership. In 2022, he was voted as a team captain by his teammates, a position he has earned each of the past three seasons. He has consistently been a positive influence in the locker room because of the way in which he conducts himself. Deatrich Wise Jr. has a heart of gold, and the New England Patriots are proud to present him as this year's selection for the team's Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year honoree.

DEDICATION & COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY EFFORTS

THIS YEAR

In 2024, Deatrich hosted his 5th annual Deatrich Wise Block Party at the Josh Kraft Teen Center, a free event in an underserved community in Boston which continues to grow in size and scope each year. This year's block party included a farmer's market, which provided over 6,000 pounds of fresh produce and packaged goods to more than 1,000 residents. It featured food trucks, artwork, healthcare services, music, entertainment, and ten barber stations offering free haircuts. Deatrich supports a variety of other causes, showing that his true passion is uplifting and inspiring others in the communities around him. In the past year, Deatrich has touched causes including healthcare, homelessness, education, military, youth football, social justice, food insecurity, and more. One of the greatest gifts that Deatrich gives is his time. For example, after each Training Camp practice, he stops by the Patriots Foundation tent to greet guests from local nonprofits. Deatrich always takes time with each person, stopping to have personal conversations with attendees. He understands the importance of positively impacting the lives of others through interpersonal interactions, and always engages others with big smiles, hearty handshakes and huge hugs. He hopes to inspire the next generation to achieve great things by helping them find something great within themselves. Deatrich encourages others to be active members of their communities. He often supports his teammates by attending the community events they host. He plans and supports events that are important to him, but he also supports initiatives that are important to his teammates and the people he cares about. Throughout the past year, Deatrich has visited pediatric cancer patients at Boston Children's Hospital, attended school visits focused on fitness and health, made inspirational videos for fans who needed words of encouragement, and supported the Lewiston-Auburn community following the tragic shooting in Lewiston, Maine in the fall of 2023. Last holiday season, he became the co-host for the annual Gifts from the Gridiron shopping event. Deatrich financially supports this event which allows 50 kids living in area homeless shelters to go on a holiday shopping spree to get essential items, an item that they personally enjoy, and a gift for someone they love. Deatrich and his teammates act as "personal shoppers," assisting the kids in their decisions and building a connection with them along the way. Deatrich will be the host of this event once again this upcoming holiday season.

IN YEARS PAST

Since joining the New England Patriots eight years ago, Deatrich has been one of the most active players in the community. As a rookie, he immediately immersed himself in the New England community, visiting local hospitals, schools and giving back during the holiday season. From reading at schools and interacting with service members, to packing hygiene kits for those experiencing homelessness, Deatrich is a cornerstone of the Patriots community relations efforts. Going beyond the opportunities presented to him by the organization, Deatrich felt a calling to take his community work a step further, founding the Wise Up Foundation alongside his family. The mission of the Wise Up Foundation is to provide educational resources and opportunities, unite communities, support underserved student-athletes, and honor America's veterans. The foundation aims to provide wisdom, education, and information to empower people to achieve their goals. Through his foundation, he hosts annual youth football camps for middle school and high school athletes. They go through football drills to help them hone their skills, but most importantly, Deatrich teaches students crucial life lessons off the field. This past October, Deatrich hosted his 5th Annual Block Party at the Josh Kraft Mattapan Teen Center, a center that is part of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston. Since he first stepped foot in the center, he felt a deep connection to the kids and community. Knowing the Mattapan community does not always get positive attention, Deatrich wanted to show the kids love and created the Block Party to be a light and a way to spread positivity. Each year, there are many activities and goods given away, including fresh produce, haircuts, braiding, essential healthcare services, and local farm-to-table food. Deatrich greets and interacts with guests. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston have shared the overwhelmingly positive feedback they receive from attendees annually. During the 3+ hour event, more than 1,500 people attended the 2024 Block Party, showing the incredible impact that Deatrich continues to have on the communities he calls home. Other events hosted annually by the Wise Up Foundation include Hot Meals for Vets, the Unsigned Senior Camp, and the Bridges 2 Trades Program. The Bridges 2 Trades program molds a pathway for Boston-area high school students to embark on a journey toward skilled trades careers by equipping them with industry insights, financial education, and vital resources.