Veteran safety Eddie Jackson was honored as the Bears’ recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award Tuesday by Maryville Academy at Manzo’s Banquets in Des Plaines.
The prestigious awards are presented to one player on all 32 NFL teams who best exemplifies a commitment to sportsmanship and courage and serves as an inspiration in the locker room. The award recipients, who are voted for by their teammates, symbolize professionalism, great strength and dedication, and they are considered community role models.
Ed Block was a long-time head trainer with the Baltimore Colts who was a pioneer in his field. The foundation promotes the prevention of child abuse by raising awareness of the epidemic and assisting agencies that provide for the care and treatment of abused children.
Block and his wife dedicated their lives to helping children in distress as foster parents and advisers. There are 27 Courage Houses connected with NFL teams and this is the 43rd year the awards have been presented.
“It’s an honor, just to be voted by coaches and teammates,” Jackson said. “And just to hear all the great things that Eddie did when he was alive and just to keep his legacy alive and be part of that, that’s a great feeling.”
Jackson was selected by the Bears in the fourth round of the 2017 draft out of Alabama. He scored five defensive touchdowns in his first two seasons and has since added a sixth, tied for third most in franchise history.
Jackson was voted to the Pro Bowl in 2018 and 2019 and named first-team All-Pro in 2018. After failing to record an interception in 2020 and 2021, he was enjoying a resurgent 2022 campaign when he sustained a season-ending foot injury in a Week 12 game against the Jets. At the time, he led the Bears with 61 tackles, four interceptions, six pass breakups and two forced fumbles—and topped NFC free safeties in Pro Bowl voting.
“I feel like it was pretty good,” Jackson said. “I’m not too happy with how it ended. We didn’t make it to the playoffs, so we didn’t get the overall goal. That’s all that matters, honestly.”
Although he did not provide a timetable for his return, Jackson told reporters that his rehab is “going great” and he feels that he’s “ahead of schedule.” He revealed that he was able to resume running about three weeks ago.
“It was a great feeling,” Jackson said. “You don’t know how grateful you are when you can run. So not being able to run for a while, it was a great feeling to get back to it.”
The Bears were represented at Tuesday’s…
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