Bart Starr Award


The Athletes in Action/Bart Starr Award is given annually to an American football player in the National Football League who "best exemplifies outstanding character and leadership in the home, on the field, and in the community". The award is presented by Athletes in Action, a sports ministry associated with Cru. 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. However, some past awardees have been chosen by fellow NFL players after the initial list is trimmed down to 10. 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". 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.
Steve Largent, the Hall of Fame former wide receiver for the Seattle Seahawks, was the winner of the inaugural award in 1989. 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. Historically, the award has only been given to one player a year, however in 1998, Irving Fryar and Brent Jones shared the award. The award has been given to one set of brothers and one father and son. The most recent awardee was Christian McCaffrey, running back for the San Francisco 49ers, in 2026.

Award winners

YearImagePlayerPositionTeam
1989Wide receiverSeattle Seahawks
1990Offensive tackleCincinnati Bengals
1991LinebackerChicago Bears
1992Defensive endPhiladelphia Eagles
1993CornerbackSan Diego Chargers
1994QuarterbackHouston Oilers
1995Wide receiverMinnesota Vikings
1996Offensive tackleSt. Louis Rams
1997CornerbackWashington Redskins
1998Wide receiverPhiladelphia Eagles
1998Tight endSan Francisco 49ers
1999SafetyAtlanta Falcons
2000CornerbackArizona Cardinals
2001Offensive tackleTennessee Titans
2002SafetyDallas Cowboys
2003QuarterbackSeattle Seahawks
2004LinebackerTampa Bay Buccaneers
2005CornerbackBuffalo Bills
2006Running backNew York Jets
2007SafetyDenver Broncos
2008Running backSan Diego Chargers
2009Running backTampa Bay Buccaneers
2010QuarterbackArizona Cardinals
2011QuarterbackNew Orleans Saints
2012LinebackerWashington Redskins
2013Tight endDallas Cowboys
2014QuarterbackGreen Bay Packers
2015QuarterbackDenver Broncos
2016LinebackerCarolina Panthers
2017Wide receiverNew England Patriots
2018Tight endBaltimore Ravens
2019Defensive endJacksonville Jaguars
2020QuarterbackNew York Giants
2021LinebackerNew Orleans Saints
2022QuarterbackSeattle Seahawks
2023QuarterbackMinnesota Vikings
2024SafetyPittsburgh Steelers
2025Cameron JordanDefensive endNew Orleans Saints
2026Christian McCaffreyRunning backSan Francisco 49ers