At 40 years old, Andrew Whitworth is a top performer and identification figure for the Los Angeles Rams. For the O-lineman, the Super Bowl is a matter of the heart. Because he has a close relationship with the Cincinnati Bengals – and an extraordinary friendship with Joe Burrow.

Munich/Los Angeles – White beard, bald head and a good 150 kilograms on the scales.

If Andrew Whitworth were to stroll through a German city centre in civilian clothes, hardly anyone would get the idea that this 40-year-old is a professional athlete.

And not only that. Whitworth is in the Super Bowl. As a starter for the Los Angeles Rams. As still one of the best at his position of left tackle. And in a matchup that could hardly be more personal for Whitworth.

For in 2006, it was the Cincinnati Bengals who selected him in the second round of the NFL Draft. For eleven years, Whitworth played for Cincinnati. He played a big part as a protector for then-quarterback Andy Dalton in helping the Bengals qualify for the playoffs five straight times in the early 2010s. Whitworth earned three of his four Pro Bowl nominations overall while wearing a Bengals jersey before finding a new team in the Rams after the 2016 season.

Andrew Whitworth: “Both places have my heart attached to them “

“It’s a very special and cool moment for me to be able to play in this game and play against an opponent that means so much to me,” Whitworth said. “Both places have my heart and both places have people that I care about.”

That’s because he was also a valued figure off the court in Cincy, supporting local youth through his BigWhit 77 Foundation. Time and again he went into the hot spots to mentor disadvantaged kids and show them a future – including Derrick Barnes, who has since found his way into the NFL as a rookie with the Detroit Lions.

Whitworth’s commitment continued after his move to Los Angeles. There, he donated a total of $250,000 to the local food bank in March 2020. Since the current season, he has also donated $20,000 per home game as part of his “Big Whit Homes for L.A. Families” initiative.

Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award

For his exceptional charitable contributions off the field and impeccability on it, Whitworth was named Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year just days before the Super Bowl.

In addition, he repeatedly sought contact with the community himself, for example when he helped young people find their way on the right track with motivational speeches.

That Whitworth has unique skills as a mentor is also demonstrated by a unique friendship that developed just over a year ago: Because when knee injuries kept him and Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow out of action for long stretches of the 2020 season, the two spent a lot of time together in Los Angeles.

Friendship with Bengals star Joe Burrow

“When I was injured, I lived about 40 minutes away from him. And we were both injured at the same time, so I went to his place and watched the games at his place on Sunday,” Joe Burrow said of the friendship with Whitworth, 15 years his senior.

“I spent my birthday at his house and I was at his house for his birthday as well. That was a cool thing he did for me, reaching out to me and making the rehab process a little bit easier. Because I was far away from the people close to me in California.”

Now the two will see each other again in Los Angeles. This time for the Super Bowl, although both won’t be on the field at the same time because of their positions.

Andrew Whitworth: Even at 40, it’s hard to imagine life without him

For that, the Bengals’ defence has to deal with “bodyguard” Whitworth. That he still belongs to the top performers at the age of 40 is shown by his usage statistics. This season, including playoff games, he was a starter in 17 games.

In twelve of these games, he was involved in all of his Rams’ offensive snaps. He played a major role in quarterback Matthew Stafford being sacked only 31 times in 17 games this season – sixth-best among NFL teams. Even at 40 and as the oldest starting left tackle in NFL history, Whitworth is hard to overcome.

He has been voted one of the team captains by his teammates every year since he joined the club. Head coach Sean McVay also gushed at a recent press conference.

“He’s a great leader, a great player, a productive player. He’s been so important to the Bengals with everything he’s done for them. And he’s confirmed just that and more with us. He was so important,” said the coach, who is four years younger than Whitworth.

First Super Bowl title in 16 years of NFL?

Only one thing Whitworth has lacked in his long career: a Super Bowl title. He reached the playoffs four times in his five years with the Rams. Three years ago they even made it to the final, but Los Angeles lost to the New England Patriots.

Now, then, perhaps the last chance for Whitworth before the Rams are threatened with another rebuild in the coming years according to the current win-now mode. His contract with the Californians officially runs until the end of next season. After that he will be 41 years old. After Tom Brady’s retirement, he is already the oldest active player in the NFL. And so the acceptance speech this Friday at the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award almost sounded like a farewell speech.

“Continue to engage, lead wholeheartedly, and I can’t wait to see that legacy carried forward,” Whitworth said then. “Remember, it is a blessing, not a burden, to carry on this NFL legacy.”

Whitworth’s legacy is already unique. In addition to receiving the NFL’s highest award for his off-the-field achievements, he could also crown himself athletically with the Vince Lombardi Trophy on Monday night.