The Ed Block Courage Award is an annual award presented to a player from each team in the National Football League (NFL) who are voted for by their teammates as role models of inspiration, sportsmanship, and courage. Named in memory of Ed Block, a humanitarian and athletic trainer for the Baltimore Colts, the award is administered by the Ed Block Courage Award Foundation. Sponsorship proceeds promote the prevention of child abuse by raising awareness of the epidemic and assisting agencies who provide for the care and treatment of abused children.
Purpose and development Ed Block was head athletic trainer for the Baltimore Colts from 1954 to 1977. He had earned a master's degree from the University of Missouri in 1937 and, following service as an army officer in World War II, a doctorate in rehabilitation and physical therapy from Columbia University. Block was also a physical therapist at a Baltimore, Maryland, hospital for disabled children. Following his retirement as Colts' trainer, local community leaders led by Baltimore businessman Sam Lamantia Jr. began an annual award in Block's honor in 1978, recognizing a Colts player for outstanding character. In 1984, the award was expanded when players on other NFL teams began to be similarly recognized. In 1986, the Ed Block Courage Award Foundation was incorporated as a charitable organization with Sam Lamantia Jr. as its CEO. The Ed Block Courage Award has since expanded to all 32 NFL teams.
The Baltimore-based foundation's twin objectives are to celebrate players of inspiration in the NFL and to raise public awareness and support prevention of child abuse. Radio public service announcements, along with televised programs, internet, and print media, are used by the foundation in furtherance of its mission.
Award selection and presentation Every year, active players on each of the 32 teams in the National Football League vote for one member of their team who, in their eyes, "exemplify commitment to the principles of sportsmanship and courage". Those players selected are announced in late December.
Each March, the 32 selected players receive their Ed Block Courage Award at a banquet held in Baltimore. Past recipients include Robbie Gould, Joe Montana, Peyton Manning, and Dan Marino. The award trophy itself is a pewtered football helmet with the recipient's team logo and engraved with the player's name, team and year.
"Courage Houses" and other endeavors The foundation has developed a national network of "Courage Houses" that help disadvantaged, neglected, and abused children. There are currently 27 Courage Houses across the country, each one tied to an NFL team. +NFL teamCourage HouseAtlanta FalconsEagle RanchBaltimore RavensSt. Vincent's VillaCarolina PanthersChildren's Home Society of North CarolinaChicago BearsMaryville AcademyCleveland BrownsProvidence HouseDallas CowboysHappy Hill Farm AcademyDetroit LionsHavenGreen Bay PackersFamily Service of Northeast WisconsinIndianapolis ColtsChildren's Bureau, Inc.Minnesota VikingsCatholic Charities of St. Paul and MinneapolisNew Orleans SaintsRickey Jackson Community Hope Foundation New York GiantsMy Sisters' PlaceOakland RaidersFred Finch Youth CenterPhiladelphia EaglesChildren's Crisis Treatment CenterLos Angeles ChargersCasa De AmparoSeattle SeahawksChildhavenSt. Louis (NFL)Our Little HavenWashington CommandersYouth for TomorrowPittsburgh SteelersHoly Family InstituteBuffalo BillsGateway LongviewJacksonville JaguarsNeighbor to FamilyHouston TexansHouston Texans YMCASan Francisco 49ersEdgewood Center for ChildrenNew England PatriotsKey Program, Inc.New York JetsDeirdre's HouseTennessee TitansThe YMCA of Middle TennesseeLos Angeles RamsA Place Called Home The foundation also sponsors the Baltimore Sports Media Hall of Fame Award and presents the Professional Football Athletic Training Staff of the Year Award. The Pro Football Weekly Assistant Coach of the Year Award is also presented at the annual Courage Awards Gala.
Winners AFC East
+Ed Block Courage Award Recipient History – AFC EastYearBuffalo BillsMiami DolphinsNew England PatriotsNew York Jets1984Steve FreemanNat MooreSteve GroganJoe Fields1985Jerry ButlerWoody BennettPete BrockJohnny Lynn1986Lucius SanfordCharles BowserSteve NelsonDan Alexander1987Robb RiddickJon GieslerLin DawsonJoe Klecko1988Tim VolgerGlenn BlackwoodGarin VerisTom Baldwin1989Steve TaskerDon McNealKenneth SimsKen O'Brien1990Darryl TalleyLiffort HobleyRonnie LippettFreeman McNeil1991Mark KelsoSammie SmithFred MarionPaul Frase1992Bruce SmithJohn GrimsleyIrving FryarDale Dawkins1993John DavisJohn OfferdahlBruce ArmstrongLonnie Young1994Kent HullTroy VincentTim GoadJim Sweeney1995Jim KellyDan MarinoVincent BrownKyle Clifton1996Mark MaddoxBernie ParmaleeSam GashSiupeli Malamala1997Henry JonesO. J. McDuffieDave MeggettDavid Williams1998John HolecekLarry IzzoTroy BrownPepper Johnson1999Sean MoranO. J. BriganceDrew BledsoeMarvin Jones2000Joe PanosDaryl GardenerTedy BruschiJason Fabini2001Jerry OstroskiScott GalyonTed JohnsonCurtis Martin2002Tony DriverRobert EdwardsJoe AndruzziVinny Testaverde2003Pat WilliamsJamie NailsMike VrabelDave Szott2004Travis HenryDavid BowensRosevelt ColvinChad Pennington2005Mark CampbellYeremiah BellTedy BruschiWayne Chrebet2006Takeo SpikesZach ThomasRodney HarrisonChris Baker2007Kevin EverettAndré GoodmanSteve NealLaveranues Coles2008Chris KelsayRonnie BrownSammy MorrisJerricho Cotchery2009James HardyJustin SmileyTom BradyDavid Harris2010Jairus ByrdPatrick CobbsWes WelkerShaun Ellis2011Andra DavisJake LongMarcus CannonBrandon Moore2012Kyle WilliamsAnthony McDanielLogan MankinsJeff Cumberland2013Marcus EasleyPaul SoliaiSebastian VollmerIsaiah Trufant2014Arthur MoatsBrandon GibsonRob GronkowskiRontez Miles2015Cordy GlennBranden AlbertJerod MayoRyan Fitzpatrick2016Stephon GilmoreCameron WakeNate SolderMuhammad Wilkerson2017Jordan PoyerMike PounceyMatthew SlaterLawrence Thomas2018Taiwan JonesRyan TannehillNate EbnerQuincy Enunwa2019Kyle PekoAlbert WilsonJulian EdelmanBilal Powell2020Jon FelicianoBobby McCainDevin McCourtyRyan GriffinJames White2021Harrison PhillipsElandon RobertsBrandon KingAshtyn Davis2022Tre'Davious WhiteAlec IngoldJakobi MeyersVinny Curry2023Damar HamlinAustin JacksonDavid AndrewsBreece HallJonathan Jones2024Spencer BrownJaelan PhillipsCole StrangeAlijah Vera-Tucker
AFC North +Ed Block Courage Award Recipient History – AFC NorthYearBaltimore Ravens (Baltimore Colts)Cincinnati BengalsCleveland BrownsPittsburgh Steelers1984Baltimore Colts Winners (1978–1983)Brian PillmanEric Williams1985(Joe Ehrmann, 1978)Tim KrumrieWillie AdamsPete Rostosky1986(Fred Cook, 1979)Dave RimingonCarl HairstonGary Dunn1987(Ken Mendenhall, 1980)Rodney A. HolmanOzzie NewsomeDwayne Woodruff1988(Herb Orvis, 1981)Eddie EdwardsEarnest BynerGreg Lloyd1989(Mike Woods, 1982)Boomer EsiasonEddie JohnsonKeith Willis1990(Nesby Glasgow, 1983)Joe WalterCody RisienJohn Rienstra1991Bruce ReimersMark HarperMike Mularkey1992Kevin WalkerLawyer TillmanHardy Nickerson1993Bruce KozerskiPatrick RoweGary Jones1994Ricardo McDonaldCarl BanksCharles Johnson1995David KlingerBennie ThompsonJerry Olsavsky1996Anthony PleasantJames FrancisRod Woodson1997Wally WilliamsScott BrumfieldMark Bruener1998Stevon MooreKi-Jana CarterTim Lester1999Peter BoulwareTom TumultyDerrick AlexanderChad Scott2000Anthony PoindexterJohn JacksonJamir MillerDermontti Dawson2001Corey HarrisRich BrahamJeremy McKinneyWayne Gandy2002Ethan BrooksRichmond WebbMark CampbellAmos Zereoué2003Marques DouglasGlen SteeleCourtney BrownMike Logan2004Orlando Brown Sr.Willie AndersonLee SuggsKendall Simmons2005Dale CarterRashad BaumanKenard LangCasey Hampton2006Corey IvyCarson PalmerPhil DawsonTravis Kirschke2007Samari RolleReggie KellyGary BaxterBen Roethlisberger2008Ed ReedRashad JeantyJoe JureviciusRyan Clark2009Dawan LandryBobbie WilliamsMike FurreyAaron Smith2010Donté StallworthCedric BensonEric BartonNick Eason2011Morgan CoxMike NugentD'Qwell JacksonMax Starks2012Terrell SuggsLeon HallReggie HodgesWillie Colon2013Jameel McClainRobert GeathersT. J. WardHeath Miller2014Lardarius WebbDevon StillDesmond BryantSean Spence2015Dennis PittaTyler EifertAlex MackWilliam Gay2016Matt ElamJames WrightJoe HadenMaurkice Pouncey2017Benjamin WatsonGiovani BernardKevin ZeitlerArtie Burns2018Marshal YandaJeff DriskelTerrance MitchellRyan Shazier2019Brandon CarrRyan GlasgowJuston BurrisJames Conner2020Mark AndrewsGeno AtkinsNick ChubbStephon Tuitt2021Tavon YoungD. J. ReaderGrant DelpitDevin Bush Jr.2022Marcus PetersLogan WilsonJack ConklinTyson Alualu2023Kevon SeymourChidobe AwuzieAnthony Walker Jr.Calvin Austin III2024Keaton MitchellTycen AndersonNick ChubbCory Trice Jr.
AFC South +Ed Block Courage Award Recipient History – AFC SouthYearHouston Texans (Houston Oilers)Indianapolis ColtsJacksonville JaguarsTennessee Titans (Tennessee Oilers)1984(Bob Hamm)Cliff Odom1985(Pat Howell)Karl Baldischwiler1986(Dean Steinkuhler)Anthony Young1987(Kent Hill)Barry Krauss1988(Alonzo Highsmith)Ben Utt1989(Douglas Smith)Chip Banks1990(Mike Munchak)Harvey L. Armstrong1991(Bubba McDowell)Quintus McDonald1992(Warren Moon)Kevin Call1993(Curtis Duncan)Steve Emtman1994(Marcus Robertson)Tony McCoy1995(Barron Wortham)Wendell DavisPaul Frase1996(Blaine Bishop)Eugene DanielDerek Brown1997Jason BeslerDave Thomas(Bruce Matthews)1998Jeff HerrodMark Brunell(Steve Jackson)1999Cornelius BennettJames StewartSteve McNair2000Bernard WhittingtonTony BoselliKenny Holmes2001Peyton ManningJimmy SmithKevin Dyson2002Jason BellRob MorrisFred TaylorEddie George2003Aaron GlennChad BratzkeTony BrackensKevin Carter2004Seth PayneGary BrackettDavid GarradKeith Bulluck2005Jabar GaffneyCato JunePaul SpicerTank Williams2006Kailee WongReggie WayneJorge CordovaBrandon Jones2007Anthony WeaverRyan LiljaGreg JonesDavid Thornton2008Harry WilliamsJeff SaturdayBrad MeesterChris Hope2009Zac DilesMarlin JacksonRichard CollierKevin Mawae2010Joel DreesenDwight FreeneyAaron KampmanWill Witherspoon2011DeMeco RyansRobert MathisJarett DillardDerrick Morgan2012Matt ShaubAntoine BetheaJohn ChickKenny Britt2013Brian CushingCory ReddingWill RackleyDavid Stewart2014David QuessenberryDwayne AllenRoy MillerMichael Griffin2015Jadeveon ClowneyJoe ReitzAllen RobinsonCraig Stevens2016Duane BrownAndrew LuckSen'Derrick MarksJason McCourty2017Derek NewtonClayton GeathersAaron ColvinKarl Klug2018Andre HalJack DoyleTommy BohanonJack Conklin2019Justin ReidJabaal SheardCam RobinsonJonnu Smith2020Dylan ColeRigoberto SanchezJames O'ShaughnessyJeffery Simmons2021Justin BrittT. Y. HiltonTre HerndonNick Westbrook-Ikhine2022Tavierre ThomasShaquille LeonardTravis EtienneRobert Woods2023John Metchie IIITyquan LewisDawuane SmootDillon Radunz2024Dylan HortonDeForest BucknerVentrell MillerRyan Stonehouse
AFC West