Dave Birkett was named Michigan sports writer of the year for 2019 on Monday, winning the award from the National Sports Media Association for the third time since 2013.
The NSMA announced state-by-state winners for sports writer and sportscaster of the year. The Free Press' Helene St. James and Ryan Ford and Angelique Chengelis of the Detroit News were the other finalists for sports writer of the year.
Birkett, hired as the Lions' beat reporter in 2010, is the ninth Free Press staffer in the past 10 years to win the award.