Bart Starr Award Explained
The Athletes in Action/Bart Starr Award is given annually to an American football player in the National Football League (NFL) who "best exemplifies outstanding character and leadership in the home, on the field, and in the community".[1] The award is presented by Athletes in Action (AIA), a sports ministry associated with Cru (formerly known as Campus Crusade for Christ). It is awarded to the winner each year at the Super Bowl Breakfast, an NFL-sanctioned event that occurs the day before the Super Bowl. The nominee list is compiled by a group of individuals made-up of the Public Relations Directors of every NFL team, past award winners and AIA staff. The list is trimmed to 10 players, with the award winner chosen by AIA leadership and past award winners.[2] However, some past awardees have been chosen by fellow NFL players after the initial list is trimmed down to 10.[3] [4] The award was first given at the second Super Bowl Breakfast in 1989. Bart Starr, the Hall of Fame former quarterback of the Green Bay Packers, partnered with AIA to present the award that bears his name. Starr was selected by AIA because he was an "individual of impeccable character who has served his family and community faithfully through the years and is a role model for athletes and business people alike".[2] Starr presented every award until 2015, when a stroke prevented him from attending the Super Bowl Breakfast anymore. Since 2015, former NFL coach Tony Dungy and Starr's son have presented the award in his honor.[2]
Steve Largent, the Hall of Fame former wide receiver for the Seattle Seahawks, was the winner of the inaugural award in 1989.[5] Since then, 37 NFL players have received the award. This includes Eugene Robinson, a safety for the Atlanta Falcons, who returned the award after being arrested the night he received it for soliciting sex from an undercover police officer.[6] Historically, the award has only been given to one player a year, however in 1998, Irving Fryar and Brent Jones shared the award.[7] The award has been given to one set of brothers (Peyton and Eli Manning in 2015 and 2019 respectively)[3] and one father and son (Jackie and Matthew Slater in 1996 and 2017 respectively).[8] The most recent awardee was Minkah Fitzpatrick, safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers, in 2024.
Award winners
Notes
- Winners are listed by the year the award was given, not by the season the player had just completed.
- Atlanta Falcons safety Eugene Robinson won the award for the 1998 NFL season, but was arrested the evening he received the award in Miami, Florida, for soliciting a female undercover police officer who was posing as a prostitute. This occurred on the eve of the Falcons' game against the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXXIII. Robinson later agreed to return the award.[6] He is no longer listed on the AIA's list of award winners.[2]
See also
Notes and References
- Web site: Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins selected for 2023 Bart Starr Award . September 23, 2023 . . December 28, 2022 . July 18, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230718152513/https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/vikings-quarterback-kirk-cousins-selected-for-2023-bart-starr-award/ . live .
- Web site: The Bart Starr Award . September 24, 2023 . SuperBowlBreakfast.com . August 9, 2021 . August 9, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230809231808/https://superbowlbreakfast.com/winners/ . live .
- Web site: Eli Manning wins 2020 Athletes in Action/Bart Starr Award . . . September 23, 2023 . January 13, 2020 . April 19, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210419054342/https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/28476853/eli-manning-wins-2020-athletes-action-bart-starr-award . live .
- Web site: New Orleans Saints' Demario Davis named Bart Starr Award winner . September 23, 2023 . . January 4, 2021 . September 26, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230926161121/https://sports.yahoo.com/orleans-saints-demario-davis-named-015717376.html?src=rss . live .
- News: Largent to receive Bart Starr Trophy . January 19, 1989 . September 26, 2023 . . clipping . . 4D . September 26, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230926210650/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-largent-to-receive-bart/132476398/ . live .
- News: Falcon's Robinson to Return Award for Good Character . . Nidetz . Stephen . February 6, 1999 . September 23, 2023 . September 25, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230925134325/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1999-02-06-9902060277-story.html . live .
- News: Ex-Packers stars reaping benefits . Murphy . Tom . January 25, 1998 . September 23, 2023 . . clipping . . C-3 . September 26, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230926161112/https://www.newspapers.com/article/green-bay-press-gazette-ex-packers-stars/132315047/ . live .
- Web site: Matthew Slater, Jackie Slater first father-son combo to win Bart Starr Award . September 23, 2023 . . Reiss . Mike . January 4, 2017 . October 19, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171019004140/http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/18405704/matthew-slater-new-england-patriots-wins-bart-starr-award-just-dad-jackie-slater . live .
- News: Munoz wins Starr Award . . January 24, 1990 . September 23, 2023 . . clipping . . B-3 . September 26, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230926161056/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-californian-munoz-wins-starr-award/132297944/ . live .
- News: Singletary wins Bart Starr Award . January 22, 1991 . September 23, 2023 . . clipping . . 7C . September 26, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230926161041/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-palm-beach-post-singletary-wins-bart/132298068/ . live .
- News: A feast of pregame programming . Brennan . John . January 25, 1992 . September 23, 2023 . . clipping . . B-2 . September 26, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230926161120/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-record-a-feast-of-pregame-programmin/132314764/ . live .
- Web site: Gill Byrd - 1993 . SuperBowlBreakfast.com . August 31, 2021 . September 26, 2023 . April 1, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230401081522/https://superbowlbreakfast.com/winner/gill-byrd/ . live .
- Web site: Warren Moon - 1994 . SuperBowlBreakfast.com . August 31, 2021 . September 26, 2023 . May 31, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230531231359/https://superbowlbreakfast.com/winner/warren-moon/ . live .
- News: C. Carter gets gift for giving . Phillips . Mike . January 27, 1995 . September 23, 2023 . . clipping . . 2SB . September 26, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230926161540/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-c-carter-gets-gift-for/132314866/ . live .
- News: Maybe they should call it the MFL . . January 23, 1996 . September 23, 2023 . . clipping . . 2C . September 26, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230926161531/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-naples-daily-news-maybe-they-should/132314917/ . live .
- News: Man of the year: Green has earned it with Skins . George . Thomas . . May 18, 1997 . September 23, 2023 . . clipping . . C10 . September 26, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230926161537/https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-man-of-the-year-green-h/132314966/ . live .
- Web site: Williams helps Hall of Fame cover history . July 2014 . September 26, 2023 . . September 26, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230926161535/https://www.profootballhof.com/news/2014/07/news-williams-helps-hall-of-fame-cover-history/ . live .
- News: Matthews is honored . Thomas . Jim . January 28, 2001 . September 23, 2023 . . clipping . . D11 . September 26, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230926161532/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-matthews-is-hono/132315144/ . live .
- News: Woodson chases a record of his own . Whitt . Richie . August 4, 2002 . September 23, 2023 . . clipping . . C11 . September 26, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230926161540/https://www.newspapers.com/article/austin-american-statesman-woodson-chases/132315189/ . live .
- Web site: Trent Dilfer - 2003 . SuperBowlBreakfast.com . August 31, 2021 . September 26, 2023 . April 1, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230401071414/https://superbowlbreakfast.com/winner/trent-dilfer/ . live .
- News: Brooks Wins Starr Award For Leadership Abilities . Cobb . Mike . January 31, 2004 . September 23, 2023 . . September 26, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230926161833/https://www.theledger.com/story/news/2004/01/31/brooks-wins-starr-award-for-leadership-abilities/26097484007/ . live .
- News: Mark . Gaughan . Mark . February 6, 2005 . September 23, 2023 . . clipping . . D6 . September 26, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230926161800/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-buffalo-news-vincent-wins-starr-awar/132315267/ . live .
- News: Dungy Still Can Count His Blessings . Fennelly . Martin . February 5, 2006 . September 23, 2023 . . clipping . . 14 . September 26, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230926161912/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-tribune-dungy-still-can-count/132336934/ . live .
- News: Lynch receives Starr-ing role with top honor . Williamson . Bill . February 3, 2007 . September 23, 2023 . . September 26, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230926161851/https://www.denverpost.com/2007/02/03/lynch-receives-starr-ing-role-with-top-honor/ . live .
- News: 'Spygate' takes Super twist for New England . News Tribune news service . February 3, 2008 . September 23, 2023 . . clipping . . C5 . September 26, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230926161804/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-tribune-spygate-takes-super-t/132315356/ . live .
- News: Dunn Awarded for His Work Within Community . Velde . Jessica Vander . February 1, 2009 . . September 23, 2023 . September 26, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230926162043/https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2009/02/01/dunn-awarded-for-his-work-within-community/ . live .
- News: Auction aids relief efforts . Reynolds . Tim . . February 8, 2010 . September 23, 2023 . . clipping . . B7 . September 26, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230926162052/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-tribune-auction-aids-relief-ef/132298224/ . live .
- Web site: Drew Brees wins Starr Award . . . January 20, 2011 . September 23, 2023 . September 26, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230926162804/https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=6042788 . live .
- Web site: Redskins linebacker Fletcher wins Bart Starr Award . . January 11, 2012 . September 23, 2023 . May 30, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230530020223/https://www.nfl.com/news/redskins-linebacker-fletcher-wins-bart-starr-award-09000d5d825e9ffb . live .
- News: Cowboys TE Witten wins Bart Starr Award . . January 25, 2013 . September 23, 2023 . September 26, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230926162046/https://www.chicagotribune.com/ . live .
- Web site: Aaron Rodgers to be honored with 2014 Bart Starr Award . September 23, 2023 . January 15, 2014 . Fox6Now.com . August 19, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220819020606/https://www.fox6now.com/sports/aaron-rodgers-to-be-honored-with-2014-bart-starr-award . live .
- Peyton Manning is 2015 Bart Starr Award winner . . January 14, 2015 . September 23, 2023 . September 26, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230926162422/https://www.si.com/nfl/2015/01/14/ap-fbn-manning-bart-starr-award . live .
- Web site: Thomas Davis named Bart Starr Award winner . September 27, 2023 . January 6, 2016 . . September 27, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230927165915/https://www.wcnc.com/article/sports/nfl/panthers/thomas-davis-named-bart-starr-award-winner/275-44520132 . live .
- Web site: Super Bowl breakfast ceremony highlights more than football . Moini . Nina . February 3, 2018 . September 23, 2023 . . March 29, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230329161159/https://www.mprnews.org/story/2018/02/03/super-bowl-breakfast-ceremony-highlights-more-than-football . live .
- Web site: Calais Campbell first Jaguar to win Bart Starr Award: 'a true honor' . DiRocco . Michael . September 23, 2023 . . January 8, 2019 . May 9, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200509030056/https://www.espn.com/blog/jacksonville-jaguars/post/_/id/26623/calais-campbell-first-jaguar-to-win-bart-starr-award-a-true-honor . live .
- Web site: Russell Wilson receives 2022 Bart Starr Award . September 23, 2023 . . February 12, 2022 . July 2, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220702075911/https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-nfl-sports-bart-starr-russell-wilson-8bb649b76a98d7c807c6798cad580739 . live .
- News: Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick honored with 2024 Bart Starr Award . . January 5, 2024 . January 12, 2024 . Fittipaldo . Ray . January 13, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240113000601/https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2024/01/05/steelers-safety-minkah-fitzpatrick-honored-with-the-2024-bart-starr-award/stories/202401050088 . live .