It’s been a tough calendar year for Sam Cosmi, but his Washington Commanders teammates are recognizing him for his courage in 2025.

Each NFL season, players are asked to vote for one of their teammates who they feel best exemplifies the qualities of a role model: inspiration, sportsmanship, and courage. The Ed Block Courage Award is annually presented to one player from each NFL team.

Cosmi, the Commanders right guard tore an ACL in last January’s playoff win in Detroit. The injury being so late, and Cosmi being such a heavy man, listed at 309 pounds, his rehabilitation project was a massive task for the former Texas Longhorn, drafted by Washington in 2021.

Cosmi worked hard, pushing himself, and made it back to playing in the seventh game for the Commanders this season. He has remained healthy and has now played in eight consecutive Washington games. Once being installed back into the starting lineup at right guard, he has been a steadying force for the overall line play, and an assist playing next to rookie right tackle Josh Conerly in particular.

“It’s an honor, it’s a privilege, being able to go through what I went through and come out stronger, especially the mental aspect of things,” expressed Cosmi to ABC 7 sports anchor Scott Abraham. “Being able to get the award is really special, and like I said, it is an honor for sure.”

Abraham inquired how Cosmi might be able to help so many others who are injured this season. Cosmi responded, “In general, there are going to be good days and bad days. Keep fighting, be blessed for those good days, and in those bad days, they are going to make you stronger.”

Recent award winners for the Washington Redskins / Commanders:

2024 Jeremy Reaves2023 Tyler Larsen2022 Brian Robinson Jr2021 DeShazor Everett2020 Brandon Scherff2019 Alex Smith2018 Chris Thompson2017 DeAngelo Hall

Block was the head athletic trainer for the NFL’s Baltimore Colts from 1954 to 1977. The award began to be given in his honor to an individual Colts player in 1978 and was expanded to other NFL teams starting in 1984.