Danielle Hunter, an elite defender who's played 119 NFL games including playoffs without being flagged for unnecessary roughness or fined for anything, is the Vikings' nominee for the 2023 Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award, the team announced Wednesday.
Danielle Hunter is the Vikings' nominee for NFL sportsmanship award
Vikings edge rusher Danielle Hunter has been flagged for only eight accepted penalties in his nine-year NFL career.
November 23, 2023 at 12:29AM
Hunter leads the NFL in tackles for loss (16) and is second in sacks (12). He was the NFL's Defensive Player of the Month for October.
Hunter has drawn eight accepted penalties for 52 yards in his nine-year career. He had two penalties as a rookie — 15 yards for a facemask and 10 yards for an illegal block on special teams — and hasn't drawn more than one flag for more than 5 yards in a season since.
"It means a lot," Hunter said of the nomination. "I try to play the game the right way. I feel that's important. I don't want to cost my team. So [sportsmanship] is a big deal."
Against New Orleans on Nov. 12, Hunter was flagged for illegal hands to the face as Saints left tackle Andrus Peat was ripping Hunter's helmet off.
Hunter offered a mild objection to the officials, lined up and sacked Derek Carr on the next play.
"Payback for sure," Hunter said.
Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson said Hunter deserves the sportsmanship award.
"Obviously, Danielle is a great player, a great human, too," Hockenson said. "When he's on the field, he does his job. He doesn't talk or doesn't do much. He just kind of does his job, makes a play and goes back and does it again."
Mike Conley was in Minneapolis, where he sounded the Gjallarhorn at the Vikings game, on Sunday during the robbery.
