FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – New England Patriots linebacker Jahlani Tavai has been selected as the recipient of the team's 2025 Ed Block Courage Award. The honor is bestowed annually upon a player or players who best exemplify the principles of courage and sportsmanship while also serving as a symbol of professionalism and dedication. Tavai will be honored at the 48th Ed Block Courage Awards Banquet, along with award winners from the 31 other NFL teams. The banquet will be hosted at the Renaissance Harborplace Hotel in Baltimore on March 7, 2026.
The Ed Block Courage Award is named after Ed Block, a long-time head athletic trainer for the Baltimore Colts and a respected humanitarian dedicated to helping children. Recipients are often players who have overcome significant injuries or tragedies in their personal lives to return to top-level competition in the NFL.
"Jahlani Tavai epitomizes courage," said Patriots Vice President of Sports Medicine and Performance/Head Athletic Trainer Jim Whalen. "Jahlani had an offseason hampered with soft tissue injuries and missed quite a bit of time during training camp. During his recovery, he developed an extremely rare autoimmune disease which required multiple physicians' visits with numerous specialists and a rigorous regimen of daily and weekly medications with various side effects.
"Throughout his entire recovery, Jahlani remained upbeat and worked hard every day. Eventually, he worked his way back into the lineup and was an integral part of the team's success. It is with great pride and admiration that we honor Jahlani with this award."
Tavai was signed to the Patriots practice squad in 2021 before being signed to the 53-man roster on October 13, 2021. He has played in 76 games for New England and served as a rotational linebacker and special teamer for the Patriots in 2025.
Past New England Patriots Ed Block Courage Award recipients include Cole Strange (2024), David Andrews and Jonathan Jones (2023), Jakobi Meyers (2022), Brandon King (2021), Devin McCourty and James White (2020), Julian Edelman (2019), Nate Ebner (2018), Matthew Slater (2017), Nate Solder (2016), Jerod Mayo (2015), Rob Gronkowski (2014), Sebastian Vollmer (2013), Logan Mankins (2012), Marcus Cannon (2011), Wes Welker (2010) and Tom Brady (2009).
Officially organized in 1986, the Ed Block Courage Award Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that is sanctioned by the NFL and the Professional Football Athletic Trainers Society (PFATS). The foundation is committed to heightening awareness of the plight of abused children in cities throughout the league. Proceeds from the annual Courage Awards event benefit the Foundation's Courage House National Support Network For Kids.
