Check out the Ford's Theatre web site, About page. Scroll down to the Lincoln Medalists, Learn More link for a list of previous honorees. Bill Russell and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar are on the list.

According to Broadway World,

Peyton W. Manning earned his place among the greatest quarterbacks in history by setting records in nearly every passing category and leading both the Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos to Super Bowl titles. He remains the NFL's only five-time Most Valuable Player and a 14-time Pro Bowl selection. Off the field, Manning's PeyBack Foundation works to promote the future success of disadvantaged youth, providing more than $13 million in grants and programs, and generating youth leadership and growth opportunities for underserved, abused and neglected children. Since its inception in 1998, Manning's scholarship program at the University of Tennessee has provided four-year scholarships to a total of 33 students participating in the university's honors program. Additionally, his involvement with the Peyton Manning Children's Hospital at St. Vincent makes possible comprehensive family-centered care for thousands of pediatric patients in need of a range of services, including intensive care. For these and other contributions, Manning has been honored with the Byron "Whizzer" White Humanitarian Award (2005), the NFL's Walter Payton Man of the Year (2005) and the Bart Starr Award (2015).