Former Vikings Standout Matt Birk Will Be Jensen's Running Mate

EAGAN, MN —With the help of a football-themed video announcement, Republican gubernatorial candidate Scott Jensen on Tuesday introduced former Minnesota Vikings center Matt Birk as his lieutenant governor pick and running mate for the Nov. 8 election.

The pair appeared together as a ticket for the first time Tuesday at a rally at the Omni Viking Hotel in Eagan, located near the Vikings' training facility.

"We're going to lead Minnesota's comeback" Jensen says in the video critical of DFL Gov. Tim Walz's policies on COVID restrictions, taxes, economics and crime. "It's the fourth quarter Minnesota, and time is running out."

Birk was raised in St. Paul, attended Cretin-Durham Hall and graduated from Harvard. He played 14 seasons in the NFL, 10 with the Vikings. He was a six-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro and won the Super Bowl XLVII in 2013 as a member of the Baltimore Ravens.

Birk received the 2011 NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year award for contributions on and off the field.

In retirement, Birk is the founder and CEO of Matt Birk and Company and he and wife Adrianna, who have eight children, started the faith-based Unity High School in Burnsville in 2019.

Birk, 45, has a history of supporting conservative causes, according to the Star Tribune. In 2012, he supported a proposed constitutional amendment in Minnesota that would have banned same-sex marriage. After winning the Super Bowl, he declined an invitation to the White House due to President Barack Obama's stance on abortion.

"We are in this race to win," Birk said in a statement announcing he is joining the ticket. "Too often our collective attitude in Minnesota is that we can be comfortable with 'middling' and our political leadership is reflective of that.

"After decades of one-party complacency, our schools are not better, our top producers are leaving the state, crime is out of control and we have a cultural and economic malaise which is impacting our spirit. But I believe we can make a comeback and become the best place to live and do business in America!"

The Minnesota DFL party was quick to respond to the announcement in a series of tweets.

In one, there is a photo of Birk with the words: "Meet Scott Jensen's new running mate. COVID anti-vaxxer, campaigned against marriage equality, supports outlawing abortion."

In another tweet, the DFL writes that Birk wants to defund public schools by redirecting funds toward school vouchers.

"Neither Matt Birk nor the man who chose him as a running mate can be trusted with the governor's office," the DFL party said in a statement.