Coming off a torn achilles that wiped out his entire 2016 season, Benjamin Watson worked hard to come back and be a key contributor for Baltimore this year, catching a team-high 61 passes for 532 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Despite missing the playoffs when the Ravens gave up a last-minute touchdown to the Bengals last Sunday, 2017 was truly a success for Watson. On Thursday, his hard work in paid off when he was told he won the Bart Starr Award for his work away from the football field.
Yesterday, @BenjaminSWatson received a call from Bart Starr's wife Cherry to inform him he was the recipient of this year's Bart Starr Award.
The award honors the NFL player who best exemplifies outstanding character and leadership in the home, on the field and in the community. pic.twitter.com/xASH0xAJLA— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) January 5, 2018
In a tweet posted Friday morning, the Ravens shared a video of Watson receiving a phone call from Bart Starr’s wife Cherry, informing him of the award. Starr, the former quarterback of the Green Bay Packers, is a Hall of Famer and was the MVP in Super Bowls I and II.
“Thank you so much. This is an honor. I’m kind of speechless,” Watson told Cherry Starr. “I’m really honored to represent you and your family and to represent all that your family stands for and all that Bart stood for and still continues to stand for with his legacy. My family and I are going to be honored to join you this year and honored to receive this. Thank you so much.”
The Bart Starr Award honors the NFL player who best exemplifies outstanding character and leadership in the home, on the field and in the community.
Past recipients of the award include Patriots special team ace Matthew Slater, Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis, Broncos QB Peyton Manning, Packers QB Aaron Rodgers, and Cowboys tight end Jason Witten.
Watson, 37, just finished his 14th NFL season and has 495 career receptions and 42 total touchdowns in playing for New England, Cleveland, New Orleans and now Baltimore.
Watson has never been shy about his faith in Christ and shared why God’s timing is perfect in a video produced by The Increase from 2017.
