GREEN BAY – Receiver Christian Watson has been named the Packers' 2025 winner of the Ed Block Courage Award.
The team presented Watson this week with the honor, which is voted on by the players and recognizes a teammate who best exemplifies commitments to the principles of sportsmanship and courage. Each team recognizes an annual recipient for his professionalism, strength and dedication, and for being a role model in the community.
Watson returned this season from a torn ACL in his knee sustained in the 2024 regular-season finale last January. He got back into game action in late October, for a Week 8 contest at Pittsburgh, and since then has caught 30 passes for 498 yards and five TDs in nine games.
He also returned from shoulder and chest injuries sustained at Denver two weeks ago and did not miss the next game, taking the field last Saturday night in Chicago and catching two passes for 17 yards.
"It means a lot for sure," Watson said of being honored by his teammates.
"Anytime you get any kind of recognition for the work that you put in, I feel like it definitely just brings a little bit more to it for sure.
"Obviously just to have been through that, that was tough in itself and I'm reaping the reward of just being able to go out there and play. It definitely means a lot as well just to be recognized for that work that I put in."
Founded more than 40 years ago, the award is named for Ed Block, the head athletic trainer of the Baltimore Colts from 1954-77 who earned a Purple Heart for his service in World War II under General George S. Patton.
Packers' previous Ed Block Courage Award winners
(listed in reverse chronological order, 2024-1984)
Josh Myers, Rashan Gary, De'Vondre Campbell, Aaron Jones, Billy Turner, Mason Crosby, Aaron Rodgers, Mike Daniels, Jayrone Elliott, Sam Barrington, Jordy Nelson, Johnny Jolly, Tramon Williams, T.J. Lang, Charles Woodson, Nick Collins, Mark Tauscher, Chris Francies, Jon Ryan, Donald Driver, Marco Rivera, Gilbert Brown, Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, Santana Dotson, Josh Bidwell, Earl Dotson, Craig Newsome, Robert Brooks, Brett Favre, Reggie White, George Teague, Johnny Holland, Tootie Robbins, Vai Sikahema, Perry Kemp, Herman Fontenot, Mark Murphy, Keith Uecker, Karl Swanke, Ezra Johnson, Ron Cassidy
