Ex-Viking Matt Birk confirms interest in future run for Minnesota governor
Former Minnesota Vikings offensive lineman Matt Birk confirmed during a radio interview Tuesday morning that he's considering running for governor against Democrat Tim Walz.
"That's the rumor of the day? Slow news day. I don't know, maybe," Birk answered when asked about a future gubernatorial campaign by WCCO Radio's Dave Lee.
"I think right now what I'm doing is I'm at a point in my life where I want to try to do something to give back, to serve. I'm just trying to figure out what might be the best way to do that. What are my skills? What are my gifts? What do I feel called to do?" said Birk.
"It's a pretty charged environment right now, politically, and all other ways. It's kind of something that I would say, very, very early on kind of exploring and having some conversations, but like my previous 44 years of my life, I have no idea where it's going and I'm OK with that.
"We'll figure it out. Whatever path I'm supposed to take, I think will become clear."
Birk played center for the Vikings from 1998 to 2008 before joining the Baltimore Ravens and winning a Super Bowl. He was named to the Pro Bowl six times as a Viking, in addition to winning the Walter Payton Man of the Year award for his community service in 2011.
Since retiring from the NFL after the 2012 season, Birk has opened a Catholic school in Burnsville while also being a frequent guest on radio shows to talk about football.
Birk attended Cretin-Derham Hall in St. Paul in high school and attended Harvard in college.
Birk has in the past attracted attention for his political views, with Radio.com noting he wrote an opinion piece against same-sex marriage in 2012, and refused to join his Super Bowl-winning Baltimore Ravens teammates on a visit to the White House when President Obama was in office.
In May, he was criticized for a tweet that expressed skepticism of the scientific community's views on COVID-19, saying: "As we listen to epidemiologists, it’s good to remember that the Titanic was built by experts, the Ark by amateurs."
The next gubernatorial election in Minnesota is Nov. 8, 2022. Another rumored candidate for the GOP nomination is MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell.
