Will Shields Receives Big Ten’s Dungy-Thompson Humanitarian Award

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Will Shields, a Hall of Fame offensive lineman from Nebraska, was honored on Tuesday by the Big Ten Conference as the recipient of the Dungy-Thompson Humanitarian Award. This award celebrates a Big Ten football player who has made significant contributions to humanitarian efforts following their college career.

Shields and his wife, Senia, founded the Will to Success Foundation in 1993. This organization facilitates programs that support individuals and families lacking access to essential aid. Since its inception, the foundation has assisted over 100,000 people and raised millions of dollars.

The couple particularly focuses on mentoring women and children who are among those most impacted by their charitable work. Shields starred as an offensive guard for Nebraska from 1989 to 1992, contributing to the Huskers’ back-to-back conference championships in 1991 and 1992.

He won the prestigious 1992 Outland Trophy as the country’s best interior lineman and earned a spot on the first team for the All-Big Eight under Coach Tom Osborne. Following his collegiate success, Shields played 14 seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, where he achieved seven All-Pro selections.

Shields’ off-field contributions earned him the 2003 NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. He is recognized as a member of both the College and Pro Football Hall of Fame and was inducted into the Nebraska Athletics Hall of Fame in 2016.

Shields is the first Nebraska player to receive the Dungy-Thompson Humanitarian Award, which is part of the Big Ten’s annual awards program. The award is named in honor of Tony Dungy of Minnesota and Anthony Thompson of Indiana.

For more details about the awards, visit bigten.org.