Seahawks QB Wilson picks up the Bart Starr Award
Russell Wilson received the 2022 Bart Starr Award on Saturday at the Super Bowl Breakfast.
The award honors the NFL player who best exemplifies outstanding character and leadership in the home, on the field, and in the community. It's named for Starr, the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame quarterback who was MVP of the first two Super Bowls.
Wilson and his wife, Ciara, started the Why Not You Foundation and the Why Not You Academy, a nonprofit high school dedicated to fighting poverty through education.
“It's been a joy to build something special that's meaningful for other people,” Wilson said.
Wilson also launched Immuno Heroes, a campaign that raises funds for Seattle Children's Therapeutics. He also helped raise over $10 million for Strong Against Cancer.
“Every time we go to Seattle Children's Hospital, we pray for a miracle,” Wilson said.
Despite speculation surrounding his future with the Seahawks, the ninetime Pro Bowl quarterback said he loves being in Seattle.
“I'm focused on what I'm doing and that's preparing to win for the Seattle Seahawks,” Wilson told the AP Pro Football Podcast.
Giants add a pair of linebackers coaches
The New York Giants added two linebacker coaches to Brian Daboll's staff and made three other moves Saturday.
New York hired John Egorugwu to coach the inside linebackers and Drew Wilkins to handle the outside linebackers.
The team also hired Christian Jones as an offensive assistant and Mark Loecher as an assistant strength and conditioning coach. Ryan Hollern, formerly chief of staff for the coaches, has moved to the player personnel department as the college scouting coordinator.
Daboll announced his three coordinators and the majority of his coaching staff Friday. Among his hires is the first women coach in team history. Laura Young will be the director of coaching operations, coordinating and organizing practices, as well as game day operations.
Egorugwu was the linebackers coach at Vanderbilt
last season. He spent the previous four year with the Buffalo Bills, the last three as a defensive quality control coach and assistant linebackers coach.
Daboll was the Bills' offensive coordinator the past four seasons before being hired by the Giants to replace Joe Judge.
Wilkins spent the previous 12 seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, the last 10 working with new Giants defensive coordinator Don Martindale. Egorugwu also worked the Ravens and knows Martindale.
Jones spent the previous three seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, while Loecher worked for the Broncos last season.
Tannehill speaks up
Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill has taken plenty of criticism for Tennessee's 19-16 loss to Cincinnati in the AFC divisional round. Tannehill threw three interceptions in that game as the No. 1 seed Titans were eliminated.
Star running back Derrick Henry has Tannehill's back.
“It's not a one-man sport. We all take part in how we played as a team. It's not just him,” Henry told the AP Pro Football Podcast. “I could've played better and I'm sure a lot of guys think they could've played better, and there's a lot of things we could've done differently. Ryan is a great player. He never gets too down on himself. He stays in the middle and takes everything for what it is. We all support him, people in the organization support him, and all you can do is come back better and let it fuel you and not get down. I'm sure Ryan isn't down.
He's ready to attack and get ready for next season.”
No Steelers rebuild
Don't tell Steelers edge rusher T.J. Watt, the 2021 AP Defensive Player of the Year, the team has to rebuild now that Ben Roethlisberger has retired.
The Steelers finished 9-7-1 and earned a wildcard berth when the Raiders beat the Chargers in overtime in the final game of the regular season. But Pittsburgh lost 42-21 to Kansas City in the first round.
“I don't know if we'll ever be rebuilding. That's never my intention. That's never the way I look at things,” Watt said on the AP Pro Football Podcast. “I think we have more than enough talent on this roster. We have great coaches to be able to win a lot of games.”