Everyone wonders how they’ll be remembered. I recently announced plans to retire at the end of the postseason after 15 years in the NFL. As you can imagine, I have been thinking a lot about this lately. My hope and prayer is that I’ll be remembered as a man of character who loves God, his wife, children, teammates and community in a way that inspires others to do the same.
Last year I was honored and humbled to receive the Bart Starr Award. Now it’s my pleasure to congratulate this year’s winner—Calais Campbell, the 2019 Bart Starr Award Winner. An 11-year veteran, he was selected by his NFL peers as a leader and a man of strong character.Calais established his own foundation to promote character education and enhance the community by teaching critical life skills to youth to empower them to be the future leaders of America at CalaisCampbell.com.
Only 30 NFL players have been recognized by the Bart Starr family as men of the strongest character who have invested in making a significant impact in their spheres of influence and who have stewarded their lives in ways to make a positive difference. To be in a class with these distinguished group of men is extraordinary, and being nominated for the award is just as incredible. I encourage this year’s list of nominees to continue to lead with conviction, to operate with compassion and to serve with humility.
As my family and I consider life after football and prepare for two new additions expected to expand our roster, I plan to keep inspiring others with my life, and I know Calais will too. Congratulations, brother, on this tremendous honor and inspiring others with the legacy you’re continuing to build on and off the field.
The Bart Starr Award is presented at the NFL-sanctioned Athletes in Action Super Bowl Breakfast. The breakfast has taken place in the Super Bowl host city every year since 1988, drawing sellout crowds to hear from some of sport's biggest names. The winner of the Bart Starr Award is determined by NFL-player balloting at the end of the regular season, making it one of only two individual honors selected by the players themselves. For more information, visit SuperBowlBreakfast.com.
