Patriots linebacker Brandon Copeland named NFLPA’s Week 15 Community MVP

Even though his season came to an end in late October when he tore his pectoral muscle, New England Patriots linebacker Brandon Copeland is still making an impact. As was announced by the NFLPA on Friday, the 29-year-old was named the Community MVP for Week 15.

Copeland teamed up with 19 current and former NFL players — including teammates Devin McCourty, Jason McCourty and Deatrich Wise Jr. — to surprise 200 underserved family with $800 Amazon gift cards each. The giveaway had a total value of $160,000. It was the first of its kind due to the circumstances created by the Coronavirus pandemic, but nothing unprecedented for Copeland.

Last year, for example, he took more than 300 underprivileged children on a holiday shopping spree. This year, he adjusted by moving the event to a virtual setting.

“We are trying to give back and put smiles on people’s faces to end this unprecedented year“ he said in an interview with CNBC. “In the virtual space, you feel like you lose a bit of connection, but we were actually able to get to know the families that we were working with this year more than we were were in the past.”

As this week’s Community MVP, Copeland is not just the first Patriot to be honored since Deatrich Wise Jr. last October, he also secured a $10,000 donation from the NFLPA to his foundation or charity of choice. Furthermore, he is now also eligible to win the NFLPA’s Alan Page Community Award — a trophy that is handed out annually since 1967, and was one by no other than Copeland himself last year.