The George Halas Award is given by the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA) to a National Football League (NFL) player, coach or staff member who overcomes the most adversity to succeed.
The award is named for George Halas, a charter member (1963) 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.[1]
In 1970, the George Halas Award went to Gale Sayers for his comeback from knee surgery to lead the NFL in rushing in 1969.[citation needed] 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."[2][3]
Other notable winners of the George Halas Award include Joe Namath,[4] Steeler running back Rocky Bleier, Hall of Fame cornerback Jimmy Johnson,[5] New York Giant cancer survivor Karl Nelson,[6] Hall of Famers Dan Hampton and Joe Montana,[7] Denver Broncos guard Mark Schlereth,[8] former N.Y. Giant Kerry Collins,[9] San Francisco 49ers Garrison Hearst[10] and Bryant Young,[11] coach and former linebacker Sam Mills,[12] Dolphins running back Robert Edwards,[13] linebacker Mark Fields,[14] former head coach Tony Dungy,[15] former New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees,[16] New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft,[17] and former Saints safety and ALS advocate Steve Gleason.[18]
^"George Halas Award | PFWA". Retrieved 2017-12-24.
^Michael E. Eidenmuller. "Movie Speech from Brian's Song - Gale Sayers Accepts George Halas Trophy for Courage". American Rhetoric. Retrieved 2015-10-16.
^"ESPN Classic - Courageous Piccolo never lost hope". Espn.go.com. 2003-11-19. Retrieved 2015-10-16.
^"History". Archived from the original on November 14, 2006. Retrieved April 22, 2007.
^"Professional Football Researchers Association- Pro Football History". Archived from the original on October 24, 2006. Retrieved April 22, 2007.
^Joseph McDonald (2006-05-03). "The Bookends Interview: Karl Nelson :: NY Sports Day - Independent New York Giants Coverage". NY Sports Day. Retrieved 2015-10-16.
^"Vic Carucci and Football". Livingprimetime.com. Retrieved 2015-10-16.
^[permanent dead link] [1][dead link]
^"PLUS - PRO FOOTBALL - Halas Award Goes To Giants' Collins - NYTimes.com". Select.nytimes.com. 2001-06-19. Retrieved 2015-10-16.
The GeorgeHalasAward is given by the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA) to a National Football League (NFL) player, coach or staff member who overcomes...
Halas, a tailor, were migrants from Pilsen, Austria-Hungary. He was the brother of Walter Halas. George had a varied career in sports. In 1915, Halas...
Virginia Halas McCaskey (née Virginia Marion Halas; January 5, 1923) is an American football executive who is the principal owner of the Chicago Bears...
George Halas Trophy that was awarded to the NFL defensive player of the year from 1966 to 1996, or the NFL's GeorgeHalas Trophy that is awarded to the...
XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX, XLIX, LI, LIII) GeorgeHalasAward (2012) NCAA Theodore Roosevelt Award (2006) John Jay Award from Columbia University (1987) Alexander...
receptions for 158 yards. Metchie was named the recipient of the 2024 GeorgeHalasAward by the Pro Football Writers of America for his adversity. His older...
Newspaper Enterprise Association NFL Defensive Player of the Year AwardGeorgeHalasAward, awarded by the Pro Football Writers Association for person who overcomes...
was chosen to receive the 2015 GeorgeHalasAward from the Pro Football Writers Association. He was presented the award at the Thursday Night Football...
Patriots from playoff contention. On May 15, 2023, Hamlin received the GeorgeHalasAward that is given annually by the Pro Football Writers of America to the...
eight-time All-Pro (four first-team, four second-team), and won the GeorgeHalasAward in 1972. He died on May 9, age 86. Jim Otto Otto played 15 seasons...
retirement on April 19, 2021. In June, he was named the winner of the GeorgeHalasAward by the PFWA. Smith joined ESPN in August 2021 to serve as an NFL analyst...
cancer treatment. On June 12, 2017, Quessenberry won the 2017 GeorgeHalasAward. The award is given to the "player, coach or staff member who overcomes...
All-Pro (1983) 4× Pro Bowl (1981, 1983–1985) NFL sacks leader (1981) GeorgeHalasAward (1982) New York Jets Ring of Honor New York Jets No. 73 retired Career...
and his quest for stars". Sports Illustrated. p. 66. "Namath says rookie award 'real nice'". Free Lance Star. Fredericksburg. Associated Press. December...
named the Associated Press College Football Coach of the Year Award. By winning the award, Michigan became the first school to win both the AP coach of...
Murrow Award for the network's coverage of the continuing coverage of the Middle East conflict. "Hala Gorani's 2015 Commencement Address at George Mason...
(1977–1986) Career highlights and awards NFL Man of the Year (1983) Second-team All-Pro (1980) Pro Bowl (1982) GeorgeHalasAward (1981) Los Angeles Chargers...
unexpectedly at their Ohio home on October 8, 2009. Three days later, Zimmer was awarded the game ball by Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis after the team's 17–14...
less money than the Broncos, playing for his hometown team and coach GeorgeHalas was more enticing. His rookie contract was worth $200,000. Along with...
to the back of the end zone, adding ten yards to the kick distance, and awarded the ball to the defense on a missed kick at the spot where the ball was...
His right foot was severely damaged in the blast as well. He was later awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. His rank was Specialist 4. While he was...
original on 2008-02-07. Retrieved 2008-03-31. Halas, George (1979). Halas by Halas: The Autobiography of GeorgeHalas. McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0-07-025549-0. "Jack...
Fame in 2000. In 1986, Montana won the AP NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award. In 1989 and again in 1990, the Associated Press named Montana the NFL MVP...
- John Halas Archived 12 May 2015 at the Wayback Machine. FilmKultura. 2011. "Animafest 1990". The Cartoons of Halas & Batchelor (2000) Halas and Batchelor...
Board and awarded the Big Ten Medal of Honor and the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Award. Brees also was awarded Purdue's Leonard Wilson Award for unselfishness...