Q&A with Super Bowl Champion Matt Birk
Birk had a 15 year career at center which included 11 seasons with his hometown Minnesota Vikings and four with the Baltimore Ravens. Birk reached the pinnacle with the Ravens in his final NFL game as the Ravens defeated the San Francisco 49ers 34-31 during the 2012 season. He was a six-time Pro Bowler and the 2011 Walter Payton Man of the Year. Birk also was able to hoist the Lombardi trophy again on Saturday, Jan.27 as he delivered the Vince Lombardi trophy to the opening of NFL Experience in Minneapolis – host of Super Bowl LII .
BM: What is your Super Bowl Prediction and why?
MB: I was very impressed with the way Philly beat the Vikings last week. I watched the film after the game and it was just impressive in all facets. They have the type of team to than can play the type of football to beat New England. [They can] get pressure with four. I think they can cover, they did a great job covering the Vikings receivers, I think they can cover the Patriots receivers. My gosh Nick Foles, people underestimate Nick Foles. He had a great year at Philly, but then got traded away to the Rams, when everybody with the Rams kind of got lost for a few years. I think people forgot that Nick Foles can play. All that being said, I’m going to pick Philly.
BM: What was it like for yourself to play in a Super Bowl?
MB: It’s hard to answer that. I don’t know if I’ll fully processed it. It’s one of things, it’s kind of a surreal experience. I actually don’t remember very much of it. Not because I was concussed, it’s just one of those kinds of moments where your feet really weren’t touching the ground. When I look back at it, I’m just very greatful to play as long as I did. To have that moment where it just was pure joy with your teammates and with your family who sacrifices so much for you to be able to play. I look back on it, I’m grateful for it, it was a good moment. It’s just a game, life goes on. It was five years ago. It’s kind of neat to come back and do stuff like this.
BM: What was it like playing against Tom Brady?
MB: You’ve got to play up to your potential. Winning the Super Bowl is obviously the best victory, I’ve ever been a part of, but we’ve beat {Patriots} twice in the playoffs in Foxboro and I’ve never walked off the field more proud of the team. Because to go to Foxboro and beat Tom Brady in the playoffs, that’s as big of a task as there is.
BM: Are you a collector of sports cards or sports memorabilia?
MB: I used to be, but my mom threw out all of my stuff. Yeah, when I grew up, that was my generation, we collected, we went to the card shop. We saved our money and chewed the gum and tried to get the packs with the Darryl Strawberry rookie(1984 Topps) and all of that stuff.
BM: Are you familiar with your own cards?
MB: I’m not familiar with them, I’m shocked when people send them to me in the mail or bring them up to me to sign. It’s way cool, it’s pretty sweet. When you’re a kid, when you get a card, you get that information and just pore over that and just memorize it because that’s all you had, there was nothing else. Like (a certain player) batted .269 in 1974. That was awesome.
BM: Do you remember the year you started collecting?
MB: Early 1980’s – Topps, Fleer, Donruss. That was kind of where I started and it went from there.
BM: What is your view on memorabilia and collecting?
MB: I think it’s great. I have kids, it’s special to them. I think whenever I get stuff it just deepens that connection to a player or a sport or whatever. When I was a young boy, I looked up to athletes and to get their cards or whatever it is, I didn’t have the opportunity to get too many autographs. And as a player too whenever you see how much it means to kids, I think it’s great.
