New Orleans Saints’ Demario Davis named Bart Starr Award winner

The New Orleans Saints Demario Davis has been named winner of the Bart Starr Award

Demario Davis, a linebacker on the New Orleans Saints, was named the winner of the Bart Starr Award on Monday.

The award, bearing the name of the Pro Football Hall of Famer quarterback of the Green Bay Packers, honors Starr’s lifelong commitment to serving as a positive role model to his family, teammates, and community.

Davis was selected by his peers in the NFL, making this the only award – other than the Pro Bowl – voted on by all the players.

“Bart Starr left the NFL with an incredible legacy of kindness, humility, charity and compassion. Though some fans may not still recognize his name today, most NFL players know exactly who he is because of his impressive record on and off the field,” Super Bowl Breakfast Director Terry Bortz said.

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“He practices what he preaches day in and day out,” running back Alvin Kamara said after Davis was named a finalist for the Walter Payton Award, calling him the definition of a role model. “He’s somebody you can talk to, count on to give you some guidance and give you some pointers in life. He’s an outstanding individual.”

This summer, Davis and his family received heartbreaking news in May when their 10-month-old daughter Carly-Faith was diagnosed with retinoblastoma, a rare optical cancer that affects roughly 300 children per year.

In time after Carly-Faith’s diagnosis, the Davis family wanted to utilize their platform for good. Their approach: Raising awareness for retinoblastoma; donating Carly-Faith’s eye to cancer research; and fundraising to alleviate the financial burdens for families of pediatric cancer patients.

For My Cause, My Cleats this year, Davis wore cleats pertaining to retinoblastoma awareness. They’ve also worked with the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, the hospital that treated Carly-Faith, and have since raised more than $17,000 for the hospital so it can continue to research cancers, educate families whose child was recently diagnosed and provide them with resources, and make capital improvements to its cancer care facilities.

Davis will receive the award on Feb. 6, the day before the Super Bowl. Past winners include Eli Manning, Calais Campbell, Benjamin Watson, Peyton Manning, and Drew Brees.