Waller is selected for the 2022 Inspiration to Youth Award honor
Darren Waller’s labor and dedication to the community has now led him to receive the Pop Warner 2022 Inspiration to Youth Award. The Las Vegas Raiders star tight end has been acknowledged since his nomination as the Raiders’ Walter Payton Man of the Year.
The Pop Warner 2022 Inspiration to Youth Award is an honor that’s been granted annually since 1993 to an individual who has inspired today’s youth to become tomorrow’s great achievers. Waller overcame substance abuse and became a star tight end in the NFL and has been using his platform as an outreach for the youth and the community.
Waller has hosted youth football camps and has worked on mental health initiatives. He established the Darren Waller Foundation in his hometown of Las Vegas to share his own personal experiences and provide a safe haven for the Las Vegas youth affected by drug addiction.
Pop Warner Little Scholars presents the Pop Warner 2022 National Awards as part of the All-American Scholars program, which honors four important figures in pro sports for their commitment to their communities and their professions.
The winners are:
Inspiration to Youth Award: Darren Waller, Las Vegas Raider Tight End; founder and president of the Darren Waller Foundation
Trailblazer Award: Dawn Aponte, NFL Chief Football Administrative Officer, Football Operations
Humanitarian Award: Warrick Dunn, Warrick Dunn Charities, Inc.; founder and former NFL running back
NFL Team of The Year Award: Los Angeles Rams
In addition to Darren Waller receiving the Pop Warner 2022 Inspiration to Youth Award, Emmitt Smith (1996), Tim Brown (2004), Kurt Warner (2005), Julien Edelman (2010), and Justin Simmons (2021) are among the many high-profile NFL athletes who have received the accolade in the past. Waller has accepted the award which honors more than 3,300 student athletes throughout the country who have been awarded All-American Scholars after achieving a 96 percent GPA.