Eden Prairie, MN (December 2, 2015) –Vikings T Phil Loadholt has been selected as the club's 2015 Ed Block Courage Award recipient by his teammates. A respected team leader who is active in charitable efforts off the field and supporting teammates initiatives has been on injured reserve since suffering a preseason Achilles injury.
Originally a 2nd-round pick by the Vikings in 2009 out of Oklahoma, Loadholt has started all 89 career games he has played and an additional 3 playoff contests. He ranks 9th in club history for starts by an OT and was named to the 2009 All-Rookie team when he started all 16 regular season games and both playoff games as the team advanced to the NFC Championship Game. Loadholt started all 16 games in 2012 when Adrian Peterson posted 2,097 yards to lead the NFL in rushing and nearly break the NFL single-season record.
Since 1984 the Ed Block Courage Awards annually honors one player from every NFL team who exemplifies commitment to the principles of sportsmanship and courage. Recipients are selected by a vote of their teammates to recognize both on and off the field extra efforts and their ability to overcome great adversity, whether it be personal or professional. The Ed Block Courage Award is named in honor of Ed Block, the longtime head athletic trainer of the Baltimore Colts. Winners travel to Baltimore every March to receive their trophy at a gala in their honor and spend time at the local Courage House at St. Vincent's Center, a facility specializing in working with abused children. This visit, and the time spent with the children, allows each recipient to fully comprehend the true meaning of the award.
For more information on the Ed Block Courage Award Foundation, visit www.edblock.org.
Vikings Ed Block Courage Honorees
Phil Loadholt......……...2015
Greg Jennings...……...2014
Kevin Williams...……...2013
Adrian Peterson ……...2012
Anthony Herrera……...2011
Cedric Griffin............... 2010
E.J. Henderson........... 2009
Kenechi Udeze........... 2008
Chad Greenway......... 2007
Matt Birk....................... 2006
Koren Robinson.......... 2005
Corey Chavous........... 2004
Eric Kelly...................... 2003
Lewis Kelly.................. 2002
Daunte Culpepper..... 2001
Gary Anderson............ 2000
Robert Griffith.............. 1999
Randall Cunningham 1998
Robert Smith............... 1997
Scottie Graham........... 1996
John Randle................ 1995
Cris Carter................... 1994
Henry Thomas............ 1993
Darrin Nelson.............. 1992
Terry Allen................... 1991
Gary Zimmerman....... 1990
Jim Gustafson............. 1989
Leo Lewis.................... 1988
Scott Studwell............. 1987
Walker Lee Ashley..... 1986
Keith Nord.................... 1985
Steve Riley................... 1984
