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 Team | Courage 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 Commanders | |
| 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
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 .| Year | Team | Trainers |
| 1985 | New York Jets | Bob Reese, Pepper Burruss, Joe Patton |
| 1986 | New Orleans Saints | Dean Kleinschmidt, Kevin Mangum |
| 1987 | Denver Brincos | Steve Antonopulos, Jim Gillen |
| 1988 | Seattle Seahawks | Jim Whitesel, John Kasik |
| 1989 | Cleveland Browns | Bill Tessendorf, Ron Medlin, Nark Smith, Leo Murphy |
| 1990 | Indianapolis Colts | Hunter Smith, Dave Hammer |
| 1991 | Kansas City Chiefs | Dave Kendall, Bud Epps |
| 1992 | Green Bay Packers | Domenic Gentile, Kurt Fielding |
| 1993 | Arizona Cardinals | John Omohundro, Jim Shearer, Jeff Herndon |
| 1994 | Oakland Raiders | George Anderson, Rod Martin, Jonathan Jones |
| 1995 | Washington Redskins | Lamar "Bubba" Tyer, Al Bellamy, Kevin Bastin |
| 1996 | Minnesota Vikings | Fred Zamberletti, Chuck Barta |
| 1997 | New England Patriots | Ron O'Neil, Kurt Brummels |
| 1998 | Detroit Lions | Kent Falb, Joe Recknagel, Bill Ford, Mike Hopper |
| 1999 | New York Giants | Ronnie Barnes, Steve Kennelly, Byron Hansen |
| 2000 | Tennessee Titans | Brad Brown, Don Moseley, Geoff Kaplan |
| 2001 | San Francisco 49ers | Lindsy McLean, Todd Lazenby, Jeff Tanaka |
| 2002 | Dallas Cowboys | Jim Maurer, Britt Brown, Greg Gaithers |
| 2003 | Jacksonville Jaguars | Michael Ryan, John Burrell, Joseph Sheehan |
| 2004 | Carolina Panthers | Ryan Vermillion, Mark Shermansky, Reggie Scott |
| 2005 | New Orleans Saints | Scottie Patton, Kevin Magnum, Duane Brooks |
| 2006 | Miami Dolphins | Kevin O'Neil, Troy Mauer, Ben Westby |
| 2007 | Buffalo Bills | Bud Carpenter, Greg McMillen, Chris Fischetti, Shone Gipson |
| 2008 | Pittsburgh Steelers | John Norwig, Ryan Grove, Ariko Iso |
| 2009 | San Diego Chargers | James Collins Jr., Damon Mitchell, Will Rogers |
| 2010 | Philadelphia Eagles | Rick Burkholder, Chris Peduzzi, Steve Condon, Joe O'Pella |
| 2011 | Green Bay Packers | Pepper Burruss, Kurt Fielding, Bryan Engel, Nate Weir |
| 2012 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | todd Toriscelli, Shannon Merrick, John Ames |
| 2013 | Houston Texans | Geoff Kaplan, Ronald Ramirez, AJ Van Valkenburgh |
| 2014 | Buffalo Bills | Bud Carpenter, Greg McMillen, Chris Fischetti, Shone Gipson |
| 2015 | St. Louis Rams | Reggie Scott, James Lomax, Byron Cunningham, Tyler Williams |
| 2016 | New England Patriots | Jim Whalen, Joe Van Allen, Daryl Nelson, Michael Akinbola |
| 2017 | Minnesota Vikings | Eric Sugarman, Tom Hunkele, Rob Roche, Albert Padilla, Dave Jantzi |
| 2018 | Washington Redskins | Larry Hess, Elliott Jermyn, Doug Quon, Mark McCracken |
| 2019 | Cleveland Browns | Joe Sheehan, Gordon Williams, Shone Gipson, Patrick Rock, Stefan Varner |
| 2020 | Dallas Cowboys | Jim Maurer, Britt Brown, Greg Gaither, Hanson Yang |
| 2021 | Miami Dolphins | Kyle Johnston, Troy Maurer, Jon Boone, Naohisa Inoue, Jasmin Grimes |
| 2022 | New York Giants | Ronnie Barnes, Leigh Weiss, Mike Baum, Steve Kennelly, Justin Maher, Phil Buzzerio |