Colts’ Braden Smith named recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Indianapolis Colts offensive tackle Braden Smith has received a major honor from his teammates. They selected Smith as the team’s recipient of the 2025 Ed Block Courage Award. The Ed Block Courag e Award honors “players who exemplify commitments to the principles of sportsmanship and courage,” according to the award’s official website. Smith is one of 32 players who received the honor as each team nominates a player. The offensive lineman is currently in his eighth season as a member of the Colts. He’s started all 13 games this season. Last season, he missed the final five games of the year after seeking treatment for a type of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Smith opened up about his battle during the team’s training camp this past summer. “I felt like I had a mental collapse, and I went home, took a nap,” Smith said back in July. “My wife thought when I woke up I was going to be in a better spot, but I just wasn’t there. It was pretty dark, and that’s when we decided as a collective — like, me and my wife — that I needed to get help.” He’s been a big advocate about the importance of mental health and seeking treatment. In fact, he represented the International OCD Foundation as part of the NFL’s My Cause My Cleats initiative at the end of last month. Previous Colts players to receive the team’s Ed Block Courage Award (dating back to 2000) are: 2024 – DT DeForest Buckner 2023 – DE Tyquan Lewis 2022 – LB Shaquille Leonard 2021 – WR T.Y. Hilton 2020 – P Rigoberto Sanchez 2019 – DE Jabaal Sheard 2018 – TE Jack Doyle 2017 – S Clayton Geathers 2016 – QB Andrew Luck 2015 – G/T Joe Reitz 2014 – TE Dwayne Allen 2013 – DE Cory Redding 2012 – S Antoine Bethea 2011 – DE Robert Mathis 2010 – DE Dwight Freeney 2009 – DB Marlin Jackson 2008 – C Jeff Saturday 2007 – OG Ryan Lilja 2006 – WR Reggie Wayne 2005 – LB Cato June 2004 – LB Gary Brackett 2003 – DE Chad Bratzke 2002 – LB Rob Morris 2001 – QB Peyton Manning 2000 – DT Bernard Whittington The 48th annual Ed Block Courage Awards banquet is scheduled to take place March 7-8, 2026 in Baltimore, Md. “Proceeds from the event will benefit the Ed Block Courage Award Foundation in Baltimore, which has an objective to establish homes for abused children in each NFL city. In Indianapolis, an Ed Block courage home (Children’s Bureau) has been open since October of 2000,” according to the Colts. ...read more read less