Houston Texans inside linebacker Dylan Cole may not have had the season he wanted in 2020, but his teammates can’t forget his hard work on and off the field.
On Wednesday, Cole was named as the Texans’ 2020 Ed Block Courage Award winner, which is voted on by players and recognizes extra efforts on and off the field in addition to a player’s ability to overcome adversity.
“I am honored to be the Ed Block Courage Award recipient this year,” Cole said via statement from the Texans. “It means a lot knowing that this award is voted on by my teammates. I’ve encountered quite a few unfortunate events in my career thus far, but this award is a reminder that all my hard work to overcome it hasn’t gone unnoticed. I’d like to give a special thank you to the athletic trainers for dealing with me through it all. It’s such a blessing to know that so many meaningful people in my life have my back.”
Cole, who was named as one of the seven team captains in 2020, has been a staple of the Texans’ special teams since joining the team as an undrafted free agent from Missouri State in 2017. Cole has produced 48 combined tackles, 19 special teams tackles, five tackles for loss, two interceptions, including a pick-six, seven pass breakups, two quarterback hits, a fumble recovery, and a blocked punt in his 37 career games with Houston.
“It’s no surprise Dylan Cole was voted by his peers to be this year’s Ed Block Courage Award recipient,” interim coach Romeo Crennel said. “Dylan is a tremendous young man both on and off the field and exemplifies what it means to be a professional in this league. Every day you see firsthand how Dylan is committed to doing whatever it takes to contribute to the team’s success and that’s why he’s earned the votes of his teammates for this award.”
Last year’s Ed Block Courage Award winner was safety Justin Reid. In 2018, safety Andre Hal took home the award.
Ed Block was the longtime head athletic trainer for the Baltimore Colts, and the Courage House he helped found is a facility that provides support and quality care for abused children and their families in the Baltimore community.