The Jacksonville Jaguars announced their nomination of safety Jarrod Wilson for the Athletes in Action Bart Starr Award Thursday. As many are aware, the award is one annually given out to honor the NFL player who best exemplifies great character and leadership in the home, on the field, and in the community.
The #Jaguars have nominated safety Jarrod Wilson for the Athletes in Action Bart Starr Award.
The award annually honors the NFL player who best symbolizes great character and leadership on and off the field.
— James Johnson (@SportsGrind_Don) December 3, 2020
“The Award is named after Bart Starr who, in addition to being in the NFL Hall of Fame, was selected as MVP in Super Bowls I and I,” the Jags said in a statement. “The award is voted on by players around the league and will be presented at the 2021 Athletes in Action Super Bowl Breakfast on Feb. 6, 2021.”
Wilson has been with the Jags since 2016 and signed with the team as an undrafted player from Michigan. After spending his first years on the team as a special teams player, he got his first start in 2018 against the Miami Dolphins and got to start again in the Jags season finale against the Houston Texans. Since that season, he hasn’t looked back and now has 25 career starts, 156 total tackles, and three picks to his name.
Wilson has put together a solid year on the field after being named a team captain, grading out with a 72.5 Pro Football Focus grade so far. He’s also been a great example off the field through his foundation which was launched during his rookie season.
“In 2016, Wilson launched the Jarrod Wilson Foundation with a focus on giving back to community through career and college readiness, scholarship programs, community service and athletics.
Since then, Wilson hosted the first annual Jarrod Wilson Football Camp in his hometown of Akron, Ohio in 2019, when he welcomed more than 100 kids to learn about not only the fundamentals of the game but also leadership and the importance of education and family. For this year’s NFL My Cause My Cleats initiative, Wilson is representing his foundation.”
Since joining the Jags, Wilson has been a very active member of the Jacksonville community, making numerous visits to Wolfson Children’s Hospital and holding events at the Hubbard House, a local domestic violence shelter. Wilson has also participated in activities to support families impacted by cancer during the Jags’ Crucial Catch initiative.
Wilson now has a chance to follow the lead of former Jags defensive lineman Calais Campbell, who won the award last season for his dominance on the field and work in various communities.