Tag: Ed Block Courage Award

LOOK: 4 Houston Texans recognized with off-field awards

Take a look at the four Houston Texans who earned off-field awards, including the 2022 Ed Block Courage Award.

The Houston Texans announced more off-field award winners for 2022.

The team announced cornerback Tavierre Thomas as the Ed Block Courage Award winner. Receiver Chris Moore, running back Dare Ogunbowale, and rookie defensive lineman Adedayo Odeleye won various awards on the Texans IMPACT Team.

Even the Texans’ sports performance staff was awarded an IMPACT Award to recognize their efforts in the community. The sports performance staff’s biggest contribution was the blood drive in support of rookie receiver John Metchie, who is currently battling leukemia.

The staff also supported local organizations by sponsoring a Halloween party for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston and fulfilled holiday wish lists for local YMCA kids.

Here are the details of the Texans’ award winners.

Shaquille Leonard is Colts’ recipient for Ed Block Courage Award

Shaquille Leonard is the recipient of the team’s Ed Block Courage Award.

Indianapolis Colts linebacker Shaquille Leonard was named the recipient of the team’s 2023 Ed Block Courage Award, which is voted on by his teammates.

The award is “an annual recognition for courageous play by an individual.” Leonard only played a handful of snaps this season due to issues with his back and ankle, but it’s clear what kind of impact he still has in the locker room.

“To be selected by my teammates for this distinguished honor is a blessing,” said Leonard in a statement. “As NFL players, we have a platform to make an impact in the communities that we represent. I take great pride in being a servant leader and inspiring the youth in Indianapolis and my hometown of Lake View, South Carolina.”

Leonard has always been a force on the field for the Colts, and his presence in the locker room has been well-documented. But his impact off the field is just as strong.

From the team’s website, here’s a look at the recent impact Leonard has made this season:

“In the community, Leonard has dedicated himself to giving back to his hometown of Lake View, S.C. and Indianapolis. In 2022, he donated $38,484 to renovate Hilltop Park in Lake View, and hosted a football camp for 200 kids at the park. To kick off the new school year, Leonard did a backpack giveaway that benefited around 380 students at Lake View Elementary. At Lake View High School, he donated $56,500 to improve the football field. Leonard also contributed $3,511 towards Coats for Kids and provided $3,500 in Thanksgiving turkeys for his hometown.”

The Colts hope to see Leonard get back on the field for 2023, and it’s clear that he’s still held in high regard despite missing the majority of the season.

Leonard also was the team’s nominee for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award.

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Jack Conklin named Ed Block Courage Award Winner

The Browns have made their nomination for this year’s Ed Block Courage Award

Every year, every NFL team nominates players for both the Walter Payton Man of the Year and Ed Block Courage Award. This year the Cleveland Browns nominated Joel Bitonio as their Walter Payton Man of the Year for his work both on and off the field. Today, the Browns have voted on their Ed Block Courage Award winner as well. Right Tackle Jack Conklin has received the Browns’ Ed Block Courage Award for fighting back from his injuries to be a significant contributor to the team this season.

The award goes to an individual based on courage, compassion, commitment, and community. Conklin had this to say after receiving the news:

“… anytime the team votes on something and they honored me with that, it’s huge to me… It means a lot to me to have my teammates see the work I put in and see how hard it was and believe in me and vote me in. It means a lot.”

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Roquan Smith wins Bears’ 2020 Ed Block Courage Award

The Bears have named inside linebacker Roquan Smith the team’s 2020 Ed Block Courage Award winner.

The Chicago Bears have named inside linebacker Roquan Smith the team’s 2020 Ed Block Courage Award winner.

The Ed Block Courage Award is given to a player on each of the 32 NFL teams who “best exemplifies a commitment to sportsmanship and courage and serves as an inspiration in the locker room.” Recipients are voted by their teammates.

“It’s a tremendous honor for me,” Smith said. “Being voted on by my teammates, I think that speaks volumes, just having your peers vote for you and think you deserve this award. That means a lot to me just because of the brotherhood that we have.”

Past Bears winners of the Ed Block Courage Award include Allen Robinson, Zach Miller and Kyle Long.

Smith is coming off an impressive 2020 season where he totaled 139 tackles, 18 tackles-for-loss, seven pass deflections, six quarterback hits, four sacks, two interceptions, and a forced fumble. Entering the final year of his contract, Smith is primed to be a Chicago Bear for a long time.

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Ravens TE Mark Andrews recipient of the 2020 Ed Block Courage Award

Baltimore Ravens TE Mark Andrews is the team’s 2020 recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award for his commitment to sportsmanship and courage

Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews had yet another stellar season in 2020. Though he isn’t capping it off with a ring ceremony, Andrews is still walking away this season with some hardware for his mantle. Andrews was the Ravens’ recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award, per ESPN’s Jamison Hensley. The Ed Block Courage Award recognizes a player who showcased a commitment to sportsmanship and courage throughout that season.

While Andrews had a solid season on the field, it wasn’t without some difficulty due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Andrews, who has Type 1 Diabetes, tested positive for COVID-19 during the season, missing two games. While diabetics aren’t necessarily more likely to contract the coronavirus, they do face a higher chance of complications, according to the American Diabetes Association.

Ultimately, Andrews was able to return to the lineup and helped Baltimore earn their way into the playoffs for the third-consecutive season. The former Oklahoma player finished the season with 58 receptions for 701 yards, finding the end zone seven times.

The Ed Block Courage Award is awarded to one player on each team and is voted on only by the players of each respective team, making it a pretty big deal. The Ravens have awarded it to such players as Dennis Pitta, Marshal Yanda, Brandon Carr, and Benjamin Watson in previous years.

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Colts name Rigoberto Sanchez recipient of Ed Block Courage Award

Rigo gets recognized by his teammates.

Indianapolis Colts punter Rigoberto Sanchez was named by his teammates the recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award, the team announced Friday.

This should come as a surprise to no one given that Sanchez was battling cancer earlier this month. He wound up missing just 20 days despite having a cancerous tumor removed on Dec. 1.

Sanchez played through the diagnosis during the team’s Week 12 loss against the Tennessee Titans because he knew the Colts wouldn’t have enough time to find a replacement given the league’s protocols surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.

The award is given annually by each team to a player who has shown courageous play. Every team nominates a recipient, all of which will be recognized at a banquet in March under typical circumstances.

“It’s an honor and a privilege to be selected for this award, especially with the great men that we have in our locker room,” Sanchez said in a statement. “I’ve always admired the people around the league who have made the list and I’m blessed to be one of the 32 recipients this year. I’m thankful for everyone who categorized me for this distinguished award. Just know, to always keep going and be the change.”

Sanchez was playing at a Pro Bowl level before missing two games to recover from the surgery.

Recent winners of this award for the Colts include Jabaal Sheard (2019), Jack Doyle (2018), Clayton Geathers (2017) and Andrew Luck (2016).

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ILB Dylan Cole named Texans’ 2020 Ed Block Courage Award winner

Inside linebacker Dylan Cole has been named as the Houston Texans’ 2020 Ed Block Courage Award winner.

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.

Joe Ostman named Ed Block Courage Award winner

Joe Ostman named Ed Block Courage Award winner by Eagles teammates

The Eagles announced that defensive end, Joe Ostman was the team’s recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award, an honor that is bestowed upon a player who exemplifies commitment to the principles of sportsmanship and courage.

Ostman was named the Eagles winner in a vote of his teammates.

Ostman signed with the Eagles as a rookie free agent in 2018 out of Central Michigan, where he finished second in school history in both sacks and tackles for loss.

Ostman spent the entirety of his rookie season on the practice squad and suffered a torn ACL the following season.

previous Ed Block Courage Award winners including Eagles Hall of Famers Ron Jaworski (1985) and Mike Quick (1989) and Jerome Brown (1992), Assistant Head Coach/Running Backs Coach Duce Staley (2001), Brandon Brooks (2019), Carson Wentz (2018), Fletcher Cox (2015), and Jason Kelce (2013).

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Nick Chubb voted as Browns recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award

Congrats to Chubb as a worthy honoree

Congratulations to Nick Chubb for winning the Browns’ Ed Block Courage Award in 2020. The running back was voted to be this year’s honoree by his teammates in winning the prestigious honor.

He follows in the footsteps of last year’s winner, Juston Burris. Cornerback Terrance Mitchell won the honor in 2018, the only other active Browns player to win the honor.

From the press release,

The Ed Block Courage Award is given annually to a member of each of the 32 NFL teams who exemplifies the qualities of Ed Block, the former head athletic trainer of the Baltimore Colts, based on courage, compassion, commitment and community.

Chubb has been very active in working with several charity foundations through Browns Give Back, the team’s philanthropy outlet. He also hosts a free youth camp in his home of Georgia among other noble works.

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Texans S Michael Thomas displays 2019 Ed Block Courage Award

Houston Texans safety Michael Thomas displayed his 2019 Ed Block Courage Award that he won in his last season with the New York Giants.

Ever wondered what an Ed Block Courage Award looks like? New Houston Texans safety Michael Thomas gave the world a peek on Twitter.

The former New York Giant was nominated by his teammates in 2019 for the award, which is voted on exclusively by players in recognition of one’s ability to overcome great adversity as well as commemorate one’s extra efforts both on and off the field.

In Thomas’ tweet, which contained the video displaying the award, the Pro Bowl safety said that he wished he could have spent time in Baltimore at the Ed Block Courage House, named for former Baltimore Colts athletic trainer Ed Block, who was passionate about children’s causes.

One of Thomas’ big causes is social justice, and the former Nimitz High School product seeks to push for identifiable change in that area.

“Just keep pushing, keep trying to get everybody else not (just) in the city of Houston, to understand that our city is doing the right work, we’re on the right path, but we need to put pressure and try to hold all of the other cities accountable as well,” Thomas told reporters on June 3.

Coach and general manager considers Thomas to be a “dependable, tough, smart” player.

“This is what we’re trying to build here, layers of DTS guys, dependable, tough, smart guys,” O’Brien said.

In 2019, Texans players voted safety Justin Reid as their Ed Block Courage Award winner.