CINCINNATI — What makes Joe Burrow a uniquely gifted and accomplished NFL quarterback goes well beyond his talent, accomplishments and leadership on the field, though all are obviously superior.
It’s the intangibles that make him a generational talent at the position. Traits like perseverance, determination and resilience that make him a transcendent player at the most important position in the sport.
Burrow didn’t just bounce back from his wrist surgery in Nov. 2023, he posted the best year of his career statistically and nearly carried a team with a moribund defense to the brink of the playoffs.
Burrow set career highs in touchdown passes (43), completion percentage (70.6), passing yards (4,918) and passer rating (108.5) while throwing just nine interceptions. No NFL quarterback had ever had the intricate surgery on his wrist that Burrow and returned at any performance level, let alone go on to post the best numbers of his career and challenge for the NFL MVP award.
As a result, Burrow this week was honored by the Pro Football Writers of America with the George Halas award, recognizing the NFL player or coach that overcame the most adversity to perform at a high level in the NFL. Burrow beat out quarterback Sam Darnold of Minnesota, running back J.K.Dobbins (Chargers) and Cleveland running back Nick Chubb.
The award for Burrow might as well be a lifetime achievement award. After all, Burrow overcame his ACL tear in Nov. 2020 of his rookie season, knee issues late in the Super Bowl run of 2021, his appendectomy (and infection) in training camp 2022, his significant calf strain in 2023 and his wrist injury at the end of the 2023 season.
He was honored by the AP writers as the Comeback Player of the Year for a second time in 2024. This award only adds to his resume.
Burrow becomes the 57th Halas Award winner and is the third member of the Bengals franchise to receive the honor from the PFWA, joining Tim Krumrie (1990) and Mike Zimmer (2010).
The award is named for Halas, a charter member (1963) of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, who was associated with the Chicago Bears and NFL from their inception in 1920 until his death in 1983 as an owner, manager, player and promoter. Halas won 324 games and six NFL titles in 40 seasons as a coach.
The Halas Award is one of the two oldest awards presented by the PFWA, along with the Bill Nunn Jr. Award, presented to a reporter who has made a long and distinguished contribution to pro football through coverage.
Burrow suffered a season-ending wrist injury in the 10th game of the 2023 season, which required surgery and an extensive rehab process. He returned to action in time to start the 2024 preseason opener, and he went on to set Cincinnati regular season team records while leading the NFL in passing attempts (652), completions (460), passing yards (4918) and TD passes (43). Burrow was twice named the AFC Offensive Player of the Month (November, December/January), and he was voted as the PFWA’s 2024 Comeback Player of the Year.
GEORGE HALAS AWARD WINNERS (To the NFL player, coach or staff member who overcomes the most adversity to succeed) Year indicates when award was presented for previous season: 1969 – Joe Namath (New York Jets); 1970 – Gale Sayers (Chicago Bears); 1971 – Tom Dempsey (New Orleans Saints); 1972 – Jimmy Johnson (San Francisco 49ers); 1973 – Mike Tilleman (Atlanta Falcons); 1974 – Dick Butkus (Chicago Bears); 1975 – Rocky Bleier (Pittsburgh Steelers); 1976 – Billy Kilmer (Washington Redskins); 1977 – Tom DeLeone (Cleveland Browns); 1978 – Pat Fischer (Washington Redskins); 1979 – Bert Jones (Baltimore Colts); 1980 – Roger Staubach (Dallas Cowboys); 1981 – Rolf Benirschke (San Diego Chargers); 1982 – Joe Klecko (New York Jets); 1983 – Eddie Lee Ivery (Green Bay Packers); 1984 – Ted Hendricks (Los Angeles Raiders); 1985 – John Stallworth (Pittsburgh Steelers); 1986 – Gary Jeter (Los Angeles Rams); 1987 – William Andrews (Atlanta Falcons); 1988 – Joe Montana (San Francisco 49ers); 1989 – Karl Nelson (New York Giants); 1990 – Tim Krumrie (Cincinnati Bengals); 1991 – Dan Hampton (Chicago Bears); 1992 – Mike Utley (Detroit Lions); 1993 – Mark Bavaro (Cleveland Browns); 1994 – Joe Montana (San Francisco 49ers); 1995 – Dan Marino (Miami Dolphins); 1996 – Larry Brown (Oakland Raiders); 1997 – Jim Harbaugh (Indianapolis Colts); 1998 – Mark Schlereth (Denver Broncos); 1999 – Dan Reeves (Atlanta Falcons); 2000 – Bryant Young (San Francisco 49ers); 2001 – Kerry Collins (New York Giants); 2002 – Garrison Hearst (San Francisco 49ers); 2003 – Robert Edwards (Miami Dolphins); 2004 – Sam Mills (Carolina Panthers); 2005 – Mark Fields (Carolina Panthers); 2006 – Tony Dungy (Indianapolis Colts); 2007 – Drew Brees (New Orleans Saints); 2008 – Kevin Everett (Buffalo Bills); 2009 – Matt Bryant (Tampa Bay Buccaneers); 2010 – Mike Zimmer (Cincinnati Bengals); 2011 – Mike Heimerdinger (Tennessee Titans); 2012 – Robert Kraft (New England Patriots); 2013 – Chuck Pagano (Indianapolis Colts); 2014 – O.J. Brigance (Baltimore Ravens); 2015 – Steve Gleason (New Orleans Saints); 2016 – Eric Berry (Kansas City Chiefs); 2017 – David Quessenberry (Houston Texans); 2018 – Marquise Goodwin (San Francisco 49ers); 2019 – Ryan Shazier (Pittsburgh Steelers); 2020 – Travis Frederick (Dallas Cowboys); 2021 – Alex Smith (Washington Football Team); 2022 – Ron Rivera (Washington Football Team); 2023 – Damar Hamlin (Buffalo Bills); 2024 – John Metchie III (Houston Texans); 2025 – Joe Burrow (Cincinnati Bengals)
