The Minnesota Vikings announced on Wednesday that quarterback Kirk Cousins was named the winner of the Athletes in Action/Bart Starr award. Founded in 1989, the award is meant to honor the NFL player who best exemplifies outstanding character and leadership in the home, on the field and in the community.
#Vikings Kirk Cousins has won the annual Athletes in Action/Bart Starr Award, given to an NFL player who "best exemplifies outstanding character and leadership in the home, on the field and in the community." He'll be honored at the Super Bowl. Vikings' Cris Carter won it in 1995
— Chris Tomasson (@christomasson) December 28, 2022
Kirk Cousins will be the third Viking to receive this award since its inception. Quarterback Warren Moon and wide receiver Cris Carter also won the award.
Cousins briefly touched on the award in his weekly press conference, where he went on to talk about getting the opportunity to meet Bart Starr.
Cousins: “I ran down towards their tunnel and just tapped him on the shoulder and shook his hand, introduced myself and just told him, basically, ‘Well done — in the life he's lived and not only what he does football field but who he was as a man and person.’”
— Ben Goessling (@BenGoessling) December 28, 2022
Cousins will receive the award at the Super Bowl breakfast in Phoenix, Arizona on February 11th and hopefully, the Vikings will also be preparing to play in the Super Bowl that weekend.