Eddie Jackson Wins Bears' Ed Block Courage Award

For his courage and inspiration, Eddie Jackson is this year's Ed Block Courage Award winner for the Chicago Bears.

Every year, the NFL awards 32 men with the Ed Block Courage Award for their courage and inspiration both on and away from the field. For the 2022 season, the recipient for the Chicago Bears is safety Eddie Jackson.

Jackson's season on the field was a critical one for the legacy of his career. After three electrifying seasons to begin his time in the NFL, Jackson was an afterthought on the defense in 2020 and 2021. He went two seasons without an interception. But in 2022, Jackson was back to his old form, recording four interceptions and 77 total tackles in just 12 games. Jackson missed the last five games of the campaign due to a Lisfranc injury.

As a recipient of the Ed Block Award, Jackson is looked at as courageous on the field, but also inspirational in the community. The honor is defined on the Award Foundation's website as the following:

"The recipients stand as role models for their ability to overcome adversity while also serving their respective communities. Throughout the year they are included in our virtual content, highlighting their accomplishments on and off the field."

This season, Jackson was viewed as a leader on a young Chicago squad. He was one of of the few veterans on the defensive side of the ball, especially following the trades that moved Roquan Smith and Robert Quinn to Baltimore and Philadelphia, respectively. Now, that leadership, both on and off the field, is recognized with this honor.

Ed Block was an athletic trainer for the Baltimore Colts from 1954-1977. This award and his foundation reflect his humanitarian efforts by supporting “the well-being of abused, neglected and at-risk children throughout our Courage House National Support Network for Kids.” Each NFL team has a Courage House that they support in their respective cities. The Bears' house, Maryville Crisis Nursery, “provides support and quality care for abused, neglected and at-risk children and their families in a community.”

This year, Eddie Jackson is the Bear that best exemplifies courage and inspiration in the community. Away from the field, Jackson has always had his hand in helping the Chicago community. His Remain to Reach Foundation "aims to inspire and provide resources to at-risk youth who have found themselves in trouble with the law at a young age." It is no surprise that Jackson was selected by his teammates, as each team award is, for the 2022 season.