Bart Starr Award

Honoring character and leadership in the NFL since 1989.

The Athletes in Action/Bart Starr Award is given annually to an NFL player who best exemplifies outstanding character and leadership in the home, on the field, and in the community. It is presented by Athletes in Action at the Super Bowl Breakfast, an NFL-sanctioned event held the day before the Super Bowl. The award was first given in 1989 and is named after Hall of Fame Green Bay Packers quarterback Bart Starr.

Quick Facts

First awarded: 1989

Lore & Background

Bart Starr partnered with Athletes in Action to present the award that bears his name. He presented every award until 2015, when a stroke prevented him from attending. Since then, former NFL coach Tony Dungy and Starr's son have presented the award in his honor. The award has been given to one set of brothers (Peyton and Eli Manning) and one father and son (Jackie and Matthew Slater). In 1998, Irving Fryar and Brent Jones shared the award.

Reader's Guide

The nominee list is compiled by the Public Relations Directors of every NFL team, past award winners, and AIA staff. The list is trimmed to 10 players, with the 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 to 10. The most recent awardee was Christian McCaffrey in 2026.

Did You Know?

Steve Largent won the inaugural award in 1989.
Eugene Robinson returned the award after being arrested the night he received it for soliciting sex from an undercover police officer.