Birk calls it a career after 15 years
December 24, 2011; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens center Matt Birk (77) in pregame...
Share This Story
BALTIMORE (AP)
Matt Birk's final game was a Super Bowl victory.
CIRCLE THE DATE
Now that the NFL's 2013 calendar year has begun, here's what fans have to look forward to.The veteran center of the Baltimore Ravens retired Friday after 15 pro seasons.
''To cap it with a Super Bowl win, that's a great thing,'' the 36-year-old Birk said. ''But, regardless of that, had that not happened, it would have still been a fantastic experience and one that I would have been very thankful and grateful for.''
Birk, the NFL's Man of the Year in 2011 for his community service, announced his retirement at Battle Grove Elementary School. A father of six, Birk established the ''Ready, Set, Read!'' program, an initiative developed by his H.I.K.E. Foundation (Hope, Inspiration, Knowledge and Education) that motivates students to read at home.
''My name is Matt. I play for the Ravens. Did you hear that the Ravens won the Super Bowl? It was good stuff, right?'' he jokingly told the students.
A sixth-round draft selection out of Harvard in 1998, Birk played 11 seasons in Minnesota before going to Baltimore. He went to six Pro Bowls and played 210 regular-season games with 124 consecutive starts, including the playoffs.
Birk is from St. Paul, Minn., so playing for the Vikings was special for him.
''Just to play in the NFL is obviously a dream come true. To do it for your hometown team is even better,'' Birk said. ''What makes it better is you get to share the experience intimately with your family and friends, and with those people who helped you immensely along the way to get to that level.
''I'll never forget after Vikings games, being out in the parking lot, my parents and our neighbors had the greatest tailgate party every single Sunday. We would have hundreds of people come. It was like everybody was welcome.''
Ravens coach John Harbaugh said the 36-year-old center played the best of his four seasons in Baltimore this past year. He lauded Birk's leadership skills.
''Young players could watch Matt and know that was how to be an NFL professional,'' Harbaugh said. ''He took notes like a rookie, he owned the weight room, and we would have to push him to take some plays off in practice.
''There are reasons he played at such a high level for 15 years.''
Playing the later stages of his career as the long-term impact of head injuries became a major issue, Birk has agreed to posthumously donate his brain and spinal cord to the Center for Traumatic Encephalopathy at Boston University's School of Medicine for head trauma research.
Related Stories
Trending Now
-
Sergio sorry for 'fried chicken' line
Sergio Garcia is apologizing for saying he would ''serve fried chicken'' while making... -
WWE looking to recruit cut NFL-ers
WWE looking to recruit wrestlers from NFL scrap heap. -
Trout hits for cycle, Angels romp
Mike Trout hit for the cycle and drove in five runs, Josh Hamilton celebrated his 32n...
NFL Videos
Superbowl L in the Bay
Posted: May 22, 2013
Peter Schrager discusses the recently announced host stadiums for Super Bowl L a...
Peter Schrager discusses the recently announced host stadiums for Super Bowl L a...
Billick: Eagles QB situation makes no sense
Posted: May 19, 2013
Brian Billick and Taylor Jones on the Eagles QB situation. Find out what Billick...
Brian Billick and Taylor Jones on the Eagles QB situation. Find out what Billick...
Te'o models game after Ray Lewis
Posted: May 19, 2013
Chargers rookie LB Manti Te'o talks about emulating Ray Lewis on the field.
Chargers rookie LB Manti Te'o talks about emulating Ray Lewis on the field.
NFL Headlines
More Than Sports on MSN
Fox Sports Store
| itemName | itemURL | imageSrc | price | itemDescription |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nike New York Jets Just Do It T-Shirt - Green - | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_New_York_Jets/browse/featuredproduct/800466/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_800000/ff_800466_xl.jpg&w=100 | 27.95 | Nike New York Jets Just Do It T-Shirt - Green - |
| Nike Pittsburgh Steelers Just Do It T-Shirt - Gold | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Pittsburgh_Steelers/browse/featuredproduct/800489/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_800000/ff_800489_xl.jpg&w=100 | 27.95 | Nike Pittsburgh Steelers Just Do It T-Shirt - Gold |
| Nike San Francisco 49ers Blockbuster T-Shirt - Scarlet | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_San_Francisco_49ers/browse/featuredproduct/801102/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_801000/ff_801102_xl.jpg&w=100 | 27.95 | Nike San Francisco 49ers Blockbuster T-Shirt - Scarlet |
| Nike Calvin Johnson Detroit Lions Game Jersey - Light Blue | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Detroit_Lions/browse/featuredproduct/825450/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_825000/ff_825450_xl.jpg&w=100 | 99.95 | Nike Calvin Johnson Detroit Lions Game Jersey - Light Blue |
| Nike Rob Gronkowski New England Patriots Game Jersey - Navy Blue | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_New_England_Patriots/browse/featuredproduct/825465/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_825000/ff_825465_xl.jpg&w=100 | 99.95 | Nike Rob Gronkowski New England Patriots Game Jersey - Navy Blue |
| Nike Eli Manning New York Giants Womens Game Jersey - Royal Blue | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_New_York_Giants/browse/featuredproduct/830781/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_830000/ff_830781_xl.jpg&w=100 | 94.95 | Nike Eli Manning New York Giants Womens Game Jersey - Royal Blue |
| Nike Peyton Manning Denver Broncos Game Jersey - Orange | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Denver_Broncos/browse/featuredproduct/845755/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_845000/ff_845755_xl.jpg&w=100 | 99.95 | Nike Peyton Manning Denver Broncos Game Jersey - Orange |
| Nike Justin Blackmon Jacksonville Jaguars Draft Game Jersey - Teal | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Jacksonville_Jaguars/browse/featuredproduct/851602/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_851000/ff_851602_xl.jpg&w=100 | 49.99 | Nike Justin Blackmon Jacksonville Jaguars Draft Game Jersey - Teal |
| New Era Green Bay Packers On-Field Performance 59FIFTY Fitted Hat - Green | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Green_Bay_Packers/browse/featuredproduct/853845/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_853000/ff_853845_xl.jpg&w=100 | 34.95 | New Era Green Bay Packers On-Field Performance 59FIFTY Fitted Hat - Green |
| New Era New Orleans Saints On-Field Performance 59FIFTY Fitted Hat - Black | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_New_Orleans_Saints/browse/featuredproduct/853852/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_853000/ff_853852_xl.jpg&w=100 | 34.95 | New Era New Orleans Saints On-Field Performance 59FIFTY Fitted Hat - Black |
Member Comments
Please note by clicking on "Post comment" you acknowledge that you have read the Terms of Use and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Be Polite. Inappropriate posts may be removed by the moderator.