Then-1st Lt. Benjamin Garland stands with Ronnie Hillman (21) and Montee Ball (38) as he listens to the National Anthem Aug 24, 2013, at Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colo. (Tech. Sgt. Wolfram M. Stumpf/Air Force)
The Denver Broncos this week announced that offensive guard, and Colorado Air National Guard Capt. Ben Garland has been named their Walter Payton Man of the Year recipient.
Garland, a public affairs officer with the 140th Wing at Buckley Air Force Base and Air Force Academy graduate, received the award for “outstanding leadership both on the field and in the community,” according to the team. Each NFL team names a player for the award, and one player will be named the award winner league-wide at the end of the season.
Garland was selected both for his service and for founding SoDE Solution, which is a nonprofit that aims to find economic solutions to end sex trafficking, according to the team. One project for the organization is to provide basic needs, such as food and clean water, to a Cambodian orphanage.
Garland joined the Broncos as a free agent out of the academy in 2010. He largely played on the team’s practice squad, and made the active roster this year.
