Ed Block Courage Award


The Ed Block Courage Award is an annual award presented to a player from each team in the National Football League 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 House
Atlanta Falcons
Baltimore Ravens
Carolina Panthers
Chicago Bears
Cleveland Browns
Dallas Cowboys
Detroit Lions
Green Bay Packers
Indianapolis Colts
Minnesota Vikings
New Orleans Saints
New York Giants
Oakland Raiders
Philadelphia Eagles
Los Angeles Chargers
Seattle Seahawks
St. Louis
Washington Redskins
Pittsburgh Steelers
Buffalo Bills
Jacksonville Jaguars
Houston Texans
San Francisco 49ers
New England Patriots
New York Jets
Tennessee Titans
Los Angeles Rams

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

AFC North

AFC South

AFC West

NFC East

NFC North

NFC South

NFC West

Athletic trainers

Ed Block was the head athletic trainer for the Baltimore Colts for over 20 years. In addition to honoring a player from each team, the award also honors the training staff for one NFL team as voted on by the .
YearTeamTrainers
1985New York JetsBob Reese, Pepper Burruss, Joe Patton
1986New Orleans SaintsDean Kleinschmidt, Kevin Mangum
1987Denver BrincosSteve Antonopulos, Jim Gillen
1988Seattle SeahawksJim Whitesel, John Kasik
1989Cleveland BrownsBill Tessendorf, Ron Medlin, Nark Smith, Leo Murphy
1990Indianapolis ColtsHunter Smith, Dave Hammer
1991Kansas City ChiefsDave Kendall, Bud Epps
1992Green Bay PackersDomenic Gentile, Kurt Fielding
1993Arizona CardinalsJohn Omohundro, Jim Shearer, Jeff Herndon
1994Oakland RaidersGeorge Anderson, Rod Martin, Jonathan Jones
1995Washington RedskinsLamar "Bubba" Tyer, Al Bellamy, Kevin Bastin
1996Minnesota VikingsFred Zamberletti, Chuck Barta
1997New England PatriotsRon O'Neil, Kurt Brummels
1998Detroit LionsKent Falb, Joe Recknagel, Bill Ford, Mike Hopper
1999New York GiantsRonnie Barnes, Steve Kennelly, Byron Hansen
2000Tennessee TitansBrad Brown, Don Moseley, Geoff Kaplan
2001San Francisco 49ersLindsy McLean, Todd Lazenby, Jeff Tanaka
2002Dallas CowboysJim Maurer, Britt Brown, Greg Gaithers
2003Jacksonville JaguarsMichael Ryan, John Burrell, Joseph Sheehan
2004Carolina PanthersRyan Vermillion, Mark Shermansky, Reggie Scott
2005New Orleans SaintsScottie Patton, Kevin Magnum, Duane Brooks
2006Miami DolphinsKevin O'Neil, Troy Mauer, Ben Westby
2007Buffalo BillsBud Carpenter, Greg McMillen, Chris Fischetti, Shone Gipson
2008Pittsburgh SteelersJohn Norwig, Ryan Grove, Ariko Iso
2009San Diego ChargersJames Collins Jr., Damon Mitchell, Will Rogers
2010Philadelphia EaglesRick Burkholder, Chris Peduzzi, Steve Condon, Joe O'Pella
2011Green Bay PackersPepper Burruss, Kurt Fielding, Bryan Engel, Nate Weir
2012Tampa Bay Buccaneerstodd Toriscelli, Shannon Merrick, John Ames
2013Houston TexansGeoff Kaplan, Ronald Ramirez, AJ Van Valkenburgh
2014Buffalo BillsBud Carpenter, Greg McMillen, Chris Fischetti, Shone Gipson
2015St. Louis RamsReggie Scott, James Lomax, Byron Cunningham, Tyler Williams
2016New England PatriotsJim Whalen, Joe Van Allen, Daryl Nelson, Michael Akinbola
2017Minnesota VikingsEric Sugarman, Tom Hunkele, Rob Roche, Albert Padilla, Dave Jantzi
2018Washington RedskinsLarry Hess, Elliott Jermyn, Doug Quon, Mark McCracken
2019Cleveland BrownsJoe Sheehan, Gordon Williams, Shone Gipson, Patrick Rock, Stefan Varner