The Ed Block Courage Award is an annual award presented to a player from each team in the

National Football League The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league that consists of 32 teams, divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The NFL is one of the majo ...

(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 Baltimore Colts were a professional American football team that played in Baltimore from its founding in 1953 to 1984. The team now plays in Indianapolis, as the Indianapolis Colts. The team was named for Baltimore's history of horse breed ...

, the award is administered by the Ed Block Courage Award Foundation. Sponsorship proceeds promote the prevention of

child abuse Child abuse (also called child endangerment or child maltreatment) is physical, sexual, and/or psychological maltreatment or neglect of a child or children, especially by a parent or a caregiver. Child abuse may include any act or failure to a ...

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

from 1954 to 1977. He had earned a master's degree from the

University of Missouri The University of Missouri (Mizzou, MU, or Missouri) is a public land-grant research university in Columbia, Missouri. It is Missouri's largest university and the flagship of the four-campus University of Missouri System. MU was founded in ...

in 1937 and, following service as an army officer in

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

, a doctorate in rehabilitation and physical therapy from

Columbia University Columbia University (also known as Columbia, and officially as Columbia University in the City of New York) is a private research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Church in Manhatt ...

. Block was also a physical therapist at a

Baltimore, Maryland Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic, and the 30th most populous city in the United States with a population of 585,708 in 2020. Baltimore wa ...

, 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

. 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 Joseph Clifford Montana Jr. (born June 11, 1956) is an American former football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 16 seasons, primarily with the San Francisco 49ers. Nicknamed "Joe Cool" and "the Comeback Kid", ...

Peyton Manning Peyton Williams Manning (born March 24, 1976) is an American former football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 18 seasons. Nicknamed "the Sheriff", he spent 14 seasons with the Indianapolis Colts and four with ...

, and

Dan Marino Daniel Constantine Marino Jr. (born September 15, 1961) is an American former football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 17 seasons with the Miami Dolphins. After a successful college career at Pittsburgh and b ...

. The award trophy itself is a pewtered

football helmet The football helmet is a piece of protective equipment used mainly in gridiron football, although a structural variation has occasional use in Australian rules football. It consists of a hard plastic shell with thick padding on the inside, a ...

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. The foundation also sponsors the Baltimore Sports Media Hall of Fame Award and presents the Professional Football

Athletic Training Athletic training is an allied health care profession recognized by the American Medical Association (AMA)"What is an Athletic Trainer?". The Board of Certification Website. 2003. Athletic training is also recognized by the Health Resources Serv ...

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 th
Professional Football Athletic Trainers Society
(PFATS).

References

External links

* {{Official website, http://www.edblock.com National Football League trophies and awards Child abuse in the United States Awards established in 1978 1978 establishments in the United States Ed Block Courage Award recipients