Super Bowl winner goes in on son after college commitment

There are football dads. And then there’s Matt Birk.

When Grant Birk announced his commitment to Lake Forest College with a polished graphic and a heartfelt thank you to God, his family, teammates and coaches, his father responded with four blunt words:

“Nobody cares, work harder.”

On the surface, it reads like a former NFL lineman refusing to hand out compliments on recruiting day.

But scroll back and the tone tells a fuller story.

When Grant earned First-Team All-District and Team Defensive Player of the Year honors, Birk joked, “You must get it from your mother. Now get a haircut.” Months earlier, he posted, “Hard work works! Chase your dream.” After another milestone: “Congrats my guy.”

The delivery is tough. The message is steady.

Birk is the father of eight. Public over-the-top praise has never really been his style. His own path was built on discipline and grit. A Harvard graduate drafted in the sixth round in 1998, he turned himself into a six-time Pro Bowler, two-time First-Team All-Pro and Super Bowl champion with the Baltimore Ravens. In 2011, he was named the NFL’s Walter Payton Man of the Year, one of the league’s highest honors for excellence on and off the field.

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It is difficult to top what he accomplished in the classroom, in the community or between the lines.

So instead of flowery congratulations, Grant got perspective.

The rest of the family filled in the warmth. His sister Sydney chimed in with “So proud of you!! Congratulations!” while his mother, Adrianna, added her own celebratory support.

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While the family celebrated the moment, Dad reinforced the standard. Different tones, same foundation with steady support and real encouragement, simply delivered in his own way.

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