Commanders HC Ron Rivera wins PFWA George Halas Award

As Coral Smith wrote for the NFL's website, Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera made headlines this past weekend when he told wide receiver Jahan Dotson to skip a day of rookie minicamp so he could attend his graduation ceremony from Penn State on Saturday. 

Fittingly, Rivera was honored on Monday when, per The Associated Press, he was selected as the 2022 George Halas Award recipient by the Professional Football Writers of America.

As noted by the PFWA website, the Halas Award is given to a player, coach, or staff member "who overcomes the most adversity to succeed." Retired Washington quarterback Alex Smith won the award last year for his remarkable return to play from his horrific and career-threatening leg injury. 

Rivera, meanwhile, was diagnosed with squamous cell cancer in his neck in August 2020 and lost over 30 pounds while receiving proton therapy and chemotherapy treatments. While he sometimes required IV treatments at halftimes of games, he never missed a contest and guided Washington to a playoff appearance in January 2021. That same month, he announced he was cancer free.

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, Dallas Cowboys signal-caller Dak Prescott, Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby and Philadelphia Eagles tackle Lane Johnson were also nominated for this year's Halas Award.