This year's recipient of the NFL's Ed Block Courage Award for the Indianapolis Colts is DeForest Buckner, chosen by his teammates for his courageous play on and off the field.
Ed Block was the head athletic trainer for the Baltimore Colts from 1954 to 1977, and also worked as a physical therapist at a hospital for children with disabilities. After he retired in 1978, an award was created by Baltimore businessman Sam Lamantia Jr. in Block's honor to recognize one member of the Colts for having outstanding character, and it was expanded throughout the entire league in 1984, and also became a charitable foundation in 1986. The goal of both the foundation and the award are to highlight and celebrate inspirational players, and to raise awareness and support prevention of child abuse. There are also 27 "Courage Houses" around the country, each tied to an NFL team, to help support disadvantaged, neglected, and abused children.
Past winners for the Colts include Peyton Manning, Reggie Wayne, Jeff Saturday, and Andrew Luck.
DeForest Buckner, selected by his teammates, is our 2024 Ed Block Courage Award recipient. #ProBowlVote | @DeForestBuckner
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) December 12, 2024
In a press release, the Colts announced Buckner as the recipient of the award, saying he was chosen "not only as one of the best interior defensive linemen in the NFL, but as one of the toughest players in the entire league." He has missed only six games in his entire career, which began with the San Francisco 49ers in 2016.
Despite being placed on injured reserve this season, Buckner didn't let that slow him down; since his return, he has continued to be one of the best defensive tackles in the league. According to Pro Football Focus, he has the third-highest pass rush productivity rating among defensive tackles in the NFL, and is second-highest with a 17.3 percent pass rush win rate. His overall grade puts him in the top 10 of all defensive tackles, and was named one of the NFL's Top 100 Players of 2023.
The Colts also noted that he was chosen for his charitable work off the field, which includes hosting an Indianapolis Colts Skills Camp for boys and girls in grades 2-8 to receive coaching in both flag and tackle football, as well as character development opportunities. He also participates in Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana (BBBSCI), the Colts' D-Line Christmas distributing gifts to local youth, and even working with local hospital maternity wards to promote safe sleep for mothers and babies.