Baltimore Ravens center Matt Birk won the 2011 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award. The NFL presents the honor annually to recognize a player’s excellence on the field together with significant community service and charitable work.
Birk was recognized largely for his work promoting literacy and educational opportunities for at-risk young people. He founded the HIKE Foundation in 2002, a nonprofit organization focused on helping Twin Cities youth improve their reading and academic prospects. His community involvement continued during his NFL career.
Birk joined the Ravens in 2009 after spending most of his career with the Minnesota Vikings. He was a six-time Pro Bowl selection and played center for Baltimore during the 2011 season. The award was announced in February 2012, but it honors contributions made during the 2011 season, which is why the correct award year is 2011. Birk later helped Baltimore win Super Bowl XLVII before retiring from professional football in 2013.