Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick has become the first Alabama alumnus to win an award named for former Crimson Tide quarterback Bart Starr.

The Bart Starr Award has been presented annually since 1989 to “the NFL player who best exemplifies outstanding character and leadership in the home, on the field and in the community.”

Fitzpatrick will receive the 2024 Bart Starr Award at the 37th annual Super Bowl Breakfast on Feb. 10 in Las Vegas. The award is presented by Athletes in Action.

Fitzpatrick learned he would receive the award from Cherry Starr, Starr’s widow.

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

Fitzpatrick is in his sixth NFL season after earning consensus All-American recognition at Alabama in 2016 and 2017.

“It’s a huge honor,” Fitzpatrick said. “I am grateful for you guys to select me. I appreciate it very much. That my peers selected me means a lot.

“I say all the time the better man you are, the better ballplayer 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.”

Fitzpatrick founded the Unshackled Foundation, through which he works to benefit foster-care children served by KidsVoice, an agency in Allegheny County (Pennsylvania) that advocates for abused and neglected children. He raised money through donations of $39 for every tackle and turnover he made. (Fitzpatrick’s jersey number is 39.) He also worked with Dreambuilders Foundation to provide bicycles for foster-care children.

Fitzpatrick was selected as a Pro Bowler for the fourth time this season.

Starr was a Sidney Lanier High School and Alabama quarterback who had a Pro Football Hall of Fame career with Green Bay. Starr played for the Packers from 1956 through 1971 and was Green Bay’s coach from 1975 through 1983.

With coach Vince Lombardi, Starr led the Packers to five NFL championships, including victories in the first two Super Bowls. He won the NFL’s Most Valuable Player Award in 1966 and was the MVP of the first two Super Bowls. Starr joined Johnny Unitas and Sonny Jurgensen as the quarterbacks on the NFL’s All-1960s team and entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1977 in his first year of eligibility.

Starr died at age 85 on May 26, 2019, in Birmingham.

Fitzpatrick is the first player from an Alabama high school or college to win the Bart Starr Award.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.