Commanders star Bobby Wagner named Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year, honors mother lost to stroke

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Bobby Wagner's mother always told him she believed he would make it to the NFL, encouraging him after her son's firing from the only job he ever had aside from football.

The Washington Commanders linebacker lost mom Phenia Mae because of complications following a stroke in May 2009 — she was only 47. His charitable work honoring her legacy long after her passing through financial assistance for stroke research and rehabilitation with the Phenia Mae Fund earned Wagner the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award for 2025 on Thursday night.

Wagner gave a shoutout to father Bobby Sr. and thanked him because “I didn’t realize how hard it was to be a father until I got two kids of my own.”

Then he turned his emotional speech to his mother.

“I cannot be up here and not talk about my mom," he said. "She is and will ever be my rock, she’s the reason why I’m standing up here. She’s the person that had confidence in me when I didn’t even have confidence in myself.”

Wagner shared how he had his only other job for about a month before being dismissed. His mom asked why he was working, to which he said he was trying to contribute to the family.

Her response: “Nah, I really feel like you can make it to the league and I want you to focus on that."

“And she said, ‘I got you,'” he said. “Those words always ring in my ear. Every time I try to help somebody, every time I see somebody in need, I say, ‘I got you.’”

The 35-year-old Wagner almost didn't attend Thursday's NFL Honors festivities.

“I really didn't think I was going to win this award. I almost didn't even come to be honest,” he said, “I'm glad I did.”

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

Washington Commanders' Bobby Wagner accepts the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award during the NFL Honors award show, Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Washington Commanders' Bobby Wagner accepts the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award during the NFL Honors award show, Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Washington Commanders' Bobby Wagner accepts the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award during the NFL Honors award show, Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

The Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year nominees stand on the stage during the NFL Honors award show, Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Washington Commanders' Bobby Wagner accepts the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award during the NFL Honors award show, Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — NBA scoring leader Luka Doncic has left the Los Angeles Lakers' game against Philadelphia on Thursday night with a left leg injury.

Doncic limped to the locker room with 3:03 left in the first half after apparently hurting his leg on the far end of the court moments earlier. He didn't return to the court when the second half began, and the Lakers announced several minutes later that Doncic was done for the night due to left leg soreness.

Doncic leads the NBA with 33.4 points per game in his first full season with the Lakers. The Slovenian superstar is also second in the league with 8.7 assists.

He had 10 points, four rebounds and five turnovers during the Lakers' rough first half against the Sixers, missing all four of his 3-point attempts.

Doncic was the NBA's Western Conference player of the month for January after averaging 34.0 points on 50.6% shooting with 7.2 rebounds, 9.1 assists and 1.5 steals in a dominant stretch of play.

He was also selected for his sixth All-Star game, voted in as a starter for the annual event at Intuit Dome in nearby Inglewood, California, next weekend.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic, left shoots as Philadelphia 76ers guard Kelly Oubre Jr. defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Philadelphia 76ers forward Dominick Barlow, left, and Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic reach for a rebound during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)