PFWA

The Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA) is an organization that purports to be "[the] official voice of pro football writers, promoting and fighting for access to NFL personnel to best serve the public." Goals of the organization include improving access to practices and locker rooms, developing working relationships with all teams, and ensuring that football writers are treated in a professional manner. As of 2005 the group consisted of over 300 writers, editors, and columnists who cover pro football. ESPN’s Denver Broncos reporter Jeff Legwold is the organization’s president for the 2015-17 term.

The PFWA issues the following awards: an All-NFL team published by Pro Football Weekly, one NFL Most Valuable Player Award (since 1975), the Dick McCann Memorial Award, the George S. Halas Courage Award, the Good Guy award, the Horrigan Award, and the Rozelle Award.

The George S. Halas Courage Award is given to the player or coach who has performed with abandon despite injury or personal problems.

In May 1970, the Halas Award went to Gale Sayers for his comeback from knee surgery to lead the NFL in rushing in 1969. In New York, at the Pro Football Writers Association banquet, Gale 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."

Other notable winners of the PFWA Halas Award include Joe Namath, Steeler running back Rocky Bleier, Hall of Fame cornerback Jimmy Johnson, New York Giant cancer survivor Karl Nelson, Hall of Famers Dan Hampton and Joe Montana, Denver Broncos guard Mark Schlereth, former N.Y. Giant Kerry Collins, San Francisco 49ers Garrison Hearst and Bryant Young, Carolina coach and former linebacker Sam Mills, Dolphins running back Robert Edwards, Carolina linebacker Mark Fields, Indianapolis Colt Head Coach Tony Dungy,New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees,New England Patriots Owner Robert Kraft (first NFL owner and first Patriot to receive one), and former Saints safety and ALS patients' advocate, Steve Gleason.

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