EAGAN, Minn. — Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr has been selected as Minnesota's 2021 Ed Block Courage Award recipient.
The award was created in honor of the former head athletic trainer of the Baltimore Colts to annually recognize one player from every NFL team who exemplifies commitments to sportsmanship and courage.
Recipients are selected for their ability to overcome adversity on and off the field while making positive community impacts through service.
The announcement of Barr's selection occurred three weeks after he was named as the Vikings Community Man of the Year and the team's nominee for the 2021 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year. An investor in dreams, Barr has made a tremendous impact through his Raise the Barr foundation.
Barr underwent extensive rehab after suffering a torn pectoral muscle against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 2 of the 2020 season.
As he was preparing to return for his eighth pro season, Barr dealt with a knee injury during Vikings training camp, which required him to miss the first four games of 2021.
The multiyear captain who has relayed calls from the sideline for the entirety of his career has made a significant impact on the Vikings defense this season. He's totaled 53 tackles, three interceptions, five passes defended, two fumble recoveries and one-half sack. Barr recorded the first multi-interception game of his career on Sunday against the Rams, picking off Matthew Stafford twice.
Vikings LB Anthony Barr received a surprise when he walked onto the concourse at TCO Performance Center and saw family members and teammate, Eric Kendricks, as they named him the 2021 Vikings Community Man of the Year.
Barr also worked through a hamstring injury he suffered in Week 12 at San Francisco to return to the lineup in Week 14 against Pittsburgh.
The four-time Pro Bowler has started all 96 regular-season games he's played, as well as five playoff contests, since his selection as the No. 9 overall pick of 2014. The drafting of Barr — as the first player picked during Head Coach Mike Zimmer's tenure — made him the second-highest-drafted linebacker in team history behind Chris Doleman (No. 4 in 1985). Doleman shifted to defensive end early during his Hall of Fame career.
View photos of Vikings LB Anthony Barr through the years participating in community events. Barr is the Vikings 2021 Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee.
Raise the Barr, which was co-founded by the linebacker and his mother Lori, has supported single-parent students earn advanced degrees since 2016 through scholarships and other services.
Barr also has been a vital member of the Minnesota Vikings Social Justice Committee, leading player-driven efforts to create valuable dialogue and meaningful changes in the community by building unity, hope and positive relationships to eliminate racism and advance social justice.
Vikings Ed Block Courage Award Winners
1984 Steve Riley
1985 Keith Nord
1986 Walker Lee Ashley
1987 Scott Studwell
1988 Leo Lewis
1989 Jim Gustafson
1990 Gary Zimmerman
1991 Terry Allen
1992 Darrin Nelson
1993 Henry Thomas
1994 Cris Carter
1995 John Randle
1996 Scottie Graham
1997 Robert Smith
1998 Randall Cunningham
1999 Robert Griffith
2000 Gary Anderson
2001 Daunte Culpepper
2002 Lewis Kelly
2003 Eric Kelly
2004 Corey Chavous
2005 Koren Robinson
2006 Matt Birk
2007 Chad Greenway
2008 Kenechi Udeze
2009 E.J. Henderson
2010 Cedric Griffin
2011 Anthony Herrera
2012 Adrian Peterson
2013 Kevin Williams
2014 Greg Jennings
2015 Phil Loadholt
2016 Teddy Bridgewater
2017 Kyle Rudolph
2018 Everson Griffen
2019 Linval Joseph
2020 Cam Smith
2021 Anthony Barr
