IAM Assistant Director of Communications DeLane Adams participated as a judge on the panel selecting finalists for the 2026 NFL Players Association (NFLPA) Alan Page Community Award. The panel was responsible for narrowing down 18 candidates to five finalists, with input from more than 6,000 fans who voted through a digital platform.
Other members of the judging panel included Anquan Boldin, former NFL wide receiver and previous recipient of the award; Mike Jones, national NFL writer for The Athletic; and Margaret Richardson, Chief Marketing and Corporate Affairs Officer at GoFundMe.
The Alan Page Community Award is considered the highest honor given by the NFLPA to a player who has demonstrated exceptional community service in their team’s city or hometown. The winner is chosen by a league-wide digital vote among NFL players.
The five finalists for this year’s award were Garett Bolles (Denver Broncos), Dion Dawkins (Buffalo Bills), Nakobe Dean (Philadelphia Eagles), Derrick Henry (Baltimore Ravens), and Caleb Williams (Chicago Bears). Denver Broncos’ Garett Bolles was selected as the 2026 winner following votes from his peers. He received a $100,000 donation from the NFLPA to support his GB3 Foundation. The announcement took place on February 3 during the NFLPA’s Super Bowl press conference in San Francisco.
Bolles was recognized earlier in the season as Week 1 NFLPA Community MVP after he and his wife Natalie opened the Bjorem + Bolles Childhood Apraxia Training Center in Parker, Colorado. This facility, established through their foundation and inspired by their son Kingston, focuses on training speech-language pathologists to assess and treat Childhood Apraxia of Speech. It is funded by a significant personal donation from the Bolles family and provides education and resources for children with apraxia.
“It was an honor to represent the IAM Union and the labor movement on this distinguished panel,” said Adams. “The commitment these NFL players demonstrate to their communities mirrors the same dedication other union members show every day in serving their neighbors and fellow workers. I want to thank Brandon Parker, NFLPA director of media and community relations, for inviting me to be part of this important process. Congratulations to Denver Broncos’ Garett Bolles on this well-deserved recognition, and to all 18 outstanding candidates who are making a real difference in people’s lives.”
The International Association of Machinists (IAM) has longstanding ties with the NFL Players Association, including providing office space at its headquarters during the early years of the players’ union.
“The IAM Union is proud to have DeLane representing the IAM in the judging of these remarkable athletes who understand that real leadership means lifting up your community,” said IAM International President Brian Bryant. “The NFLPA’s Community MVP campaign is a tremendous program. I want to congratulate Denver Broncos’ Garett Bolles and all the other finalists. They represent the best of what it means to be a union member, standing up for those who need it most.”
Since its inception in 1967, what is now known as the Alan Page Community Award has recognized player contributions off-the-field each year. In 2018 it was renamed after Alan Page—Pro Football Hall of Famer, former Minnesota Supreme Court justice, executive committee member for players’ union activities, and advocate for social justice.
Each week during football season as part of its ongoing civic outreach efforts the NFLPA recognizes one player as Community MVP, awarding them $10,000 toward their nonprofit organization.
