George Halas Award


The George Halas Award is given by the Pro Football Writers of America to a National Football League player, coach or staff member who overcomes the most adversity to succeed.
The award is named for George Halas, a charter member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame who was associated with the Chicago Bears and NFL from their inception in 1920 until his death in 1983 as an owner, manager, player and promoter.
Halas represented the Bears, then known as the Decatur Staleys, at the Sept. 17, 1920 organizational meeting of the American Football Association in Canton, Ohio. One year later, the AFA became known as the National Football League.
Halas’ teams won six NFL titles in his 40 seasons as the Bears’ coach. His 318 regular-season wins and 324 total victories were long-standing NFL records until broken by Don Shula in 1993.
In 1970, the George Halas Award went to Gale Sayers for his comeback from knee surgery to lead the NFL in rushing in 1969. Sayers gave an emotional speech that was memorialized in the film Brian's Song. Said Sayers, "You flatter me by giving me this award, but I’ll tell you here and now that I accept it for Brian Piccolo. Brian Piccolo is the man of courage who should receive the George S. Halas Award. I accept it tonight, but I’ll present it to Brian tomorrow. I love Brian Piccolo. And I’d like all of you to love him, too. And tonight, when you hit your knees, ask God to love him, too."
Other notable winners of the George Halas Award include Joe Namath, Steeler running back Rocky Bleier, Hall of Fame cornerback Jimmy Johnson, New York Giant cancer survivor Karl Nelson, Hall of Famers Dan Hampton and Joe Montana, Denver Broncos guard Mark Schlereth, former N.Y. Giant Kerry Collins, San Francisco 49ers Garrison Hearst and Bryant Young, coach and former linebacker Sam Mills, Dolphins running back Robert Edwards, linebacker Mark Fields, former head coach Tony Dungy, former New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, and former Saints safety and ALS advocate Steve Gleason.

Winners

YearWinnerTeam
1969Joe NamathNew York Jets
1970Gale SayersChicago Bears
1971Tom DempseyNew Orleans Saints
1972Jimmy JohnsonSan Francisco 49ers
1973Mike TilemanAtlanta Falcons
1974Dick ButkusChicago Bears
1975Rocky BleierPittsburgh Steelers
1976Billy KilmerWashington Redskins
1977Tom DeLeoneCleveland Browns
1978Pat FischerWashington Redskins
1979Bert JonesBaltimore Colts
1980Roger StaubachDallas Cowboys
1981Rolf BenirschkeSan Diego Chargers
1982Joe KleckoNew York Jets
1983Eddie Lee IveryGreen Bay Packers
1984Ted HendricksLos Angeles Raiders
1985John StallworthPittsburgh Steelers
1986Gary JeterLos Angeles Rams
1987William AndrewsAtlanta Falcons
1988Joe MontanaSan Francisco 49ers
1989Karl NelsonNew York Giants
1990Tim KrumrieCincinnati Bengals
1991Dan HamptonChicago Bears
1992Mike UtleyDetroit Lions
1993Mark BavaroNew York Giants
1994Joe MontanaKansas City Chiefs
1995Dan MarinoMiami Dolphins
1996Larry BrownOakland Raiders
1997Jim HarbaughIndianapolis Colts
1998Mark SchlerethDenver Broncos
1999Dan ReevesAtlanta Falcons
2000Bryant YoungSan Francisco 49ers
2001Kerry CollinsNew York Giants
2002Garrison HearstSan Francisco 49ers
2003Robert EdwardsMiami Dolphins
2004Sam MillsCarolina Panthers
2005Mark FieldsCarolina Panthers
2006Tony DungyIndianapolis Colts
2007Drew BreesNew Orleans Saints
2008Kevin EverettBuffalo Bills
2009Matt BryantTampa Bay Buccaneers
2010Mike ZimmerCincinnati Bengals
2011Mike HeimerdingerTennessee Titans
2012Robert KraftNew England Patriots
2013Chuck PaganoIndianapolis Colts
2014O. J. BriganceBaltimore Ravens
2015Steve GleasonNew Orleans Saints
2016Eric BerryKansas City Chiefs
2017David QuessenberryHouston Texans
2018Marquise GoodwinSan Francisco 49ers
2019Ryan ShazierPittsburgh Steelers
2020Travis FrederickDallas Cowboys
2021Alex SmithWashington Football Team
2022Ron RiveraWashington Commanders
2023Damar HamlinBuffalo Bills
2024John Metchie IIIHouston Texans