Steelers’ Minkah Fitzpatrick named NFL’s 2024 Bart Starr Award winner

Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick made his fourth Pro Bowl this week. He’s likely more impressed with a notification he received from Cherry Starr.

Cherry is the wife of the late, great Bart Starr, the legendary Packers quarterback. There’s an award honoring his memory given to a player who shows outstanding leadership, character and integrity for actions on and off the field. Fellow NFL players vote on the award. And this year, it’s Fitzpatrick.

“I know Bart would be so proud you are selected and honored because of your character and his character,” Cherry Starr told Fitzpatrick. “I will enjoy watching your career from now on.” 

Athletes in Action sponsors the Starr Award, which was first given in 1989 when Seahawks receiver Steve Largent earned the distinction. Fitzpatrick will be honored at the Super Bowl Breakfast next month in Las Vegas. It’s an annual event the day before football’s biggest game. Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins was last year’s recipient.

“That my peers selected me means a lot,” Fitzpatrick said. “I say all the time the better man you are, the better ball player you will be. I feel like that’s a phrase not a lot of people really believe in across the league. 

“The fact that people see a good man in me means a lot. I am always trying to be a better man, better brother, better son. The fact that people recognize that is a huge honor.” 

Steelers star started campaign to help local foster kids

We’ve all seen Fitzpatrick play for the Steelers. The former Alabama standout is one of the top safeties in the NFL. However, he also does a ton of community service work. He’s a member of the Steelers Social Justice Committee. As part of that, he works as a liaison to organizations throughout the city.

Plus, he also operates his own non-profit called the Unshackled Foundation. It’s a faith-based group. Fitzpatrick’s recent project worked to raise money for KidsVoice, an agency in Allegheny County. The group advocates for neglected and abused foster children. He donated $39 for every tackle he made this season. Plus, in another project, he worked with Dreambuilders Foundation to give bikes to Pittsburgh-area foster kids.

Fitzpatrick recently talked about why he focuses on helping the lives of foster children.

“I don’t think a lot of people have an understanding of the process these kids go through,” the Steelers safety said. “They go from family to family, or from home to home. They never really get to develop the right way. (And) they never get to have a good relationship with a father or mother figure. It’s tough.

“The kids that come out of this system are scarred and have trauma from it because it’s tough to go through. Raising awareness for this situation is something I wanted to do and something I can give people more of an understanding of what is going on.”

The Steelers end the regular season on the road, Saturday, against the Ravens. Fitzpatrick has dealt with injuries all season, as he’s missed a total of six games. He’s questionable for Steelers-Ravens because of an ankle injury. However, he returned to practice this week for the first time since he suffered the injury last month.