The Chicago Bears named linebacker Roquan Smith their Ed Block Courage Award winner on Thursday, April 22, for the 2020-21 NFL season.
The award is given annually to the player who best displays professionalism, strength, dedication and is a community role model.
The player is voted on by his teammates and organized by the team’s athletic trainers, player representatives and team captains.
Smith, along with other winners, was honored virtually on Saturday night, April 24, by the Ed Block Courage Award Found- ation.
The foundation based in Baltimore, Maryland, is dedicated to supporting the well-being of abused, neglected and at-risk children throughout its Courage House National Support Network for Kids.
Last season, Smith was named second-team All-Pro after finishing the year as the only NFL player to record at least 100 tackles, 10 tackles-for-loss, two sacks and two interceptions.
His career-high, 18 tackles-for-loss tied for the second most in the NFL.
The Ed Block Courage Award benefits the Ed McCaskey Scholarship Fund, which donates to high school, college and vocational scholarships for the children of Maryville Academy.
The scholarship is named for Bears vice president and treasurer and longtime Maryville supporter Ed McCaskey. The Ed Block Courage Award began in Baltimore in honor of Eddie Block, former head athletic trainer of the Baltimore Colts. Eddie Block and his wife dedicated their lives to helping children in distress, as foster parents and advisers.
There are 23 Courage Houses presently connected with NFL teams.
Below is a list of past Chicago Bears Ed Block Courage Award Honorees: 1984: Danny Rains (LB) 1997: James Williams (T) 2010: Anthony Adams (DT) 1985: Mark Bortz (G) 1998: John Thierry (DE) 2011: Brian Urlacher (LB) 1986: Mike Tomczak (QB) 1999: Ryan Wetnight (TE) 2012: Nick Roach (LB) 1987: Ron Morris (WR) 2000: Clyde Simmons (DE) 2013: Patrick Mannelly (LS) 1988: Glen Kozlowski (WR) 2001: Jim Miller (QB) 2014: Matt Slauson (G) 1989: Ron Rivera (LB) 2002: Ted Washington (DT) 2015: Robbie Gould (K) 1990: Lemuel Stinson (CB) 2003: Dustin Lyman (TE) 2016: Pernell McPhee (LB) 1991: John Wojciechowski (T) 2004.
The list also included Marc Colombo (T) 2017: Kyle Long (OL) 1992: Shaun Gayle (S) 2005: Ruben Brown (G) 2018: Zach Miller (TE) 1993: Keith Van Horne (T) 2006: Rex Grossman (QB) 2019: Allen Robinson II (WR) 1994: Kevin Butler (K) 2007: Tommie Harris (DT) 2020: Roquan Smith (LB) 1995: Vinson Smith (LB) 2008: Charles Tillman (CB) 1996: John Mangum (S) and 2009: Israel Idonije (DE).
Joseph Phillips is the Sports Editor for the Chicago Crusader Newspaper. He is a Chicago native, who has been a sports writer for over 17 years. He also hosts the SC Media News and Sports Network Q&A radio show on WHPK 88.5 FM Chicago. He can be reached at [email protected].
Joseph Phillips is the Sports Editor for the Chicago Crusader Newspaper. He is a Chicago native, who has been a sports writer for over 17 years. He also hosts the SC Media News and Sports Network Q&A radio show on WHPK 88.5 FM Chicago.
- Joseph Phillipshttps://chicagocrusader.com/author/joseph-phillips/
- Joseph Phillipshttps://chicagocrusader.com/author/joseph-phillips/
- Joseph Phillipshttps://chicagocrusader.com/author/joseph-phillips/
- Joseph Phillipshttps://chicagocrusader.com/author/joseph-phillips/