EAGAN, Minn. — Vikings right tackle Brian O'Neill has been selected as Minnesota's 2023 Ed Block Courage Award recipient.
The award was created in honor of the former head athletic trainer of the Baltimore Colts, and it annually recognizes one player from every NFL team who exemplifies commitments to sportsmanship and courage.
Recipients are selected for their ability to overcome adversity on and off the field while making positive community impacts through service.
O'Neill certainly fits the bill for Minnesota.
The 2018 second-round pick has been a Vikings starter since getting thrown into the fire as a rookie, and he'd stayed relatively healthy throughout his first five seasons. But in Week 17 of the 2022 season, O'Neill suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon at Green Bay that sidelined him for the Vikings regular-season finale at Chicago and Wild Card game against the Giants, as well as most of the offseason.
O'Neill returned in a limited capacity for the team's night practice during Vikings Training Camp, and he made a full return to practice on Aug. 23.
"I'm really proud of Brian and everything he's done – his whole progression, his patience, his professionalism," Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell.
O'Neill, who served as a team captain in 2023 for the third consecutive season, started all 14 games he's played in this season, missing Weeks 15 (Bengals) and 16 (Bears) with an ankle injury. He's been on the field for 883 offensive snaps.
Vikings Ed Block Courage Award Winners
1984 Steve Riley
1985 Keith Nord
1986 Walker Lee Ashley
1987 Scott Studwell
1988 Leo Lewis
1989 Jim Gustafson
1990 Gary Zimmerman
1991 Terry Allen
1992 Darrin Nelson
1993 Henry Thomas
1994 Cris Carter
1995 John Randle
1996 Scottie Graham
1997 Robert Smith
1998 Randall Cunningham
1999 Robert Griffith
2000 Gary Anderson
2001 Daunte Culpepper
2002 Lewis Kelly
2003 Eric Kelly
2004 Corey Chavous
2005 Koren Robinson
2006 Matt Birk
2007 Chad Greenway
2008 Kenechi Udeze
2009 E.J. Henderson
2010 Cedric Griffin
2011 Anthony Herrera
2012 Adrian Peterson
2013 Kevin Williams
2014 Greg Jennings
2015 Phil Loadholt
2016 Teddy Bridgewater
2017 Kyle Rudolph
2018 Everson Griffen
2019 Linval Joseph
2020 Cam Smith
2021 Anthony Barr
2022 Blake Proehl
2023 Brian O'Neill
