Roquan Smith earns Ed Block Courage Award

Bears linebacker Roquan Smith was honored by his teammates as the team's 2020 Ed Block Courage Award winner. The award is given every year to one player on all 32 NFL teams who best displays professionalism, strength, dedication and is a community role model.

The award is voted on by teammates and organized by athletic trainers, player representatives and team captains.

Smith, 24, is coming off the best season of his young career. He was a second-team All-Pro performer at inside linebacker and led the Bears with 139 total tackles. He also had four sacks and two interceptions. His career-high 18 tackles for loss was tied for second most in the NFL.

Smith and the 31 other winners will be honored virtually Saturday night by the Ed Block Courage Award Foundation, which is based in Baltimore and dedicated to supporting abused, neglected and at-risk children through its Courage House National Support Network for Kids.

The Ed Block Courage Award benefits the Ed McCaskey Scholarship Fund, which donates to high school, college and vocational scholarships for the children of Maryville Academy. The scholarship is named for former Bears vice president and treasurer and longtime Maryville supporter Ed McCaskey.

The Ed Block Courage Award began in Baltimore in honor of Eddie Block, former head athletic trainer of the Baltimore Colts. Eddie Block and his wife dedicated their lives to helping children in distress as foster parents and advisers.

Previous Bears to win the award include Allen Robinson in 2019, Zach Miller in 2018, Kyle Long in 2017, Pernell McPhee in 2016 and Robbie Gould in 2015.