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HISTORY-Team Awards

The Ed Block Courage Award


The Ed Block Courage Award is named after Ed Block, the former head athletic trainer of the Baltimore Colts of 23 years. Block was a pioneer in his profession and a respected humanitarian whose most passionate cause was helping children of abuse. The award is presented in his name each year to the player that exemplified a commitment to sportsmanship and courage. Ed Block Courage Award winners from each of the 32 NFL teams are honored at a banquet in Baltimore, MD. All proceeds from the event benefit the Ed Block Courage Award Foundation's Courage House National Support Network. Named after the NFL team in a respective NFL city, a Courage House is a facility that provides support and quality care for abused children and their families in that community. The 49ers dedicated their Courage House in October 2003 at the Edgewood House in San Francisco.

Listed below are the 49ers annual Ed Block Courage Award winners:

Courage
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Winners
1984 - S Ronnie Lott 1985 - LB Keena Turner 1986 - QB Joe Montana
1987 - WR Mike Wilson 1988 - CB Eric Wright 1989 - DB Chet Brooks
1990 - WR Mike Sherrard 1991 - DB Dave Waymer 1992 - CB Eric Davis
1993 - CB Don Griffin 1994 - T Harris Barton 1995 - DT Dennis Brown
1996 - FB William Floyd 1997 - C Jesse Sapolu 1998 - WR Jerry Rice
1999 - DT Bryant Young 2000 - RB Garrison Hearst 2001 - S Lance Schulters
2002 - S Tony Parrish 2003 - C Jeremy Newberry 2004 - LB Jamie Winborn
2005 - C Jeremy Newberry 2006 - RB Frank Gore 2007 - C Eric Heitmann
2008 - LB Manny Lawson 2009 - CB Shawntae Spencer 2010 - DT Justin Smith
2011 - QB Alex Smith 2012 - WR Kyle Williams 2013 - C Jonathan Goodwin
2014 - WR Kassim Osgood 2015 - LB NaVorro Bowman 2016 - DL Glenn Dorsey
2017 - WR Marquise Goodwin 2018 - CB Richard Sherman 2019 - DL Solomon Thomas
2020 - CB Jason Verrett 2021- CB Dontae Johnson 2022 - T Mike McGlinchey
2023 - DT Javon Kinlaw

The Len Eshmont Award


The Len Eshmont Award, the 49ers most prestigious annual honor, has been given each year to the 49er who best exemplifies the "inspirational and courageous play" of Len Eshmont. A member of the original 1946 49ers team, Eshmont coached at Navy and Virginia following his playing days with the 49ers. Eshmont passed away in 1957.

Listed below are the 49ers annual Len Eshmont Award winners since its inception in 1957:

Eshmont
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Winners
1957 - QB Y.A. Tittle 1958 - FB Joe Perry 1959 - HB J.D. Smith
1960 - S Dave Baker 1961 - DT Leo Nomellini 1962 - DE Dan Colchico
1963 - T Bob St. Clair 1964 - DT Charlie Krueger 1965 - QB John Brodie
1966 - HB John David Crow 1967 - LB Dave Wilcox 1968 - LB Matt Hazeltine
1969 - CB Jimmy Johnson 1970 - S Roosevelt Taylor 1971 - LB Ed Beard
1972 - DE Tommy Hart 1973 - S Mel Phillips 1974 - T Len Rohde
1975 - CB Jimmy Johnson 1976 - DE Tommy Hart 1977 - S Mel Phillips
1978 - RB Paul Hofer 1979 - RB Paul Hofer 1980 - DT Archie Reese
1981 - TE Charle Young 1982 - WR Dwight Clark 1983 - RB/ST Bill Ring
1984 - LB Keena Turner 1985 - FB Roger Craig 1986 - QB Joe Montana
1987 - WR Jerry Rice 1988 - NT Michael Carter/ RB Roger Craig 1989 - QB Joe Montana
1990 - DE Kevin Fagan/ LB Charles Haley 1991 - WR John Taylor 1992 - QB Steve Young
1993 - WR Jerry Rice 1994 - QB Steve Young 1995 - FB William Floyd
1996 - DT Bryant Young 1997 - DT Dana Stubblefield 1998 - DT Bryant Young
1999 - DT Bryant Young 2000 - DT Bryant Young 2001 - RB Garrison Hearst
2002 - S Tony Parrish 2003 - LB Julian Peterson 2004 - DT Bryant Young
2005 - DT Bryant Young 2006 - DT Bryant Young 2007 - DT Bryant Young
2008 - WR Isaac Bruce 2009 - TE Vernon Davis 2010 - LB Takeo Spikes
2011 - DT Justin Smith 2012 - DT Justin Smith 2013 - LB NaVorro Bowman
2014 - RB Frank Gore 2015 - WR Anquan Boldin 2016 - QB Colin Kaepernick
2017 - WR Marquise Goodwin 2018 - DL DeForest Buckner 2019 - TE George Kittle
2020 - LB Fred Warner 2021 - WR Deebo Samuel 2022 - DL Nick Bosa
2023 - QB Brock Purdy

​Matt Hazeltine Award

The Hazeltine Iron Man Award is named after linebacker/center Matt Hazeltine, a 13-year performer who played more seasons at linebacker than any other 49ers player. Known for his durability and dedication, Hazeltine passed away in 1987 from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Bill Walsh established the award in his honor that year. The award is given annually to the most courageous and inspirational defensive player.

Listed below are the 49ers annual award winners since its inception in 1987:

Hazletine
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Winners
1987 - LB Michael Walter 1988 - LB Charles Haley 1989 - DB Ronnie Lott
1990 - DE  Kevin Fagan 1991 - LB Charles Haley 1992 - DE Pierce Holt
1993 - S Tim McDonald 1994 - CB Merton Hanks 1995 - S Tim McDonald
1996 - CB Merton Hanks 1997 - LB Gary Plummer 1998 - S Tim McDonald
1999 - DT Bryant Young 2000 - LB Ken Norton Jr. 2001 - S Lance Schulters
2002 - S John Keith 2003 - LB Derek Smith 2004 - LB Jeff Ulbrich
2005 - DE Bryant Young 2006 - LB Brandon Moore 2007 - LB Jeff Ulbrich 
2008 - LB Takeo Spikes 2009 - NT Aubrayo Franklin 2010 - DT Justin Smith
2011 - DT Justin Smith 2012 - DT Ray McDonald 2013 - DT Justin Smith
2014 - DT Justin Smith 2015 - DB Jimmie Ward 2016 - S Antoine Bethea
2017 - DL DeForest Buckner 2018 - DL DeForest Buckner 2019 - LB Kwon Alexander
2020 - CB Jason Verrett 2021-LB Azeez Al-Shaair 2022- DL Nick Bosa

​Thomas Herrion Award

49ers owners Denise and John York established the Thomas Herrion Memorial Award in 2005, which will be presented each season to a rookie or first-year player that best represents the dream of Thomas Herrion. The award will go to a player, like Thomas, who has taken advantage of every opportunity, turned it into a positive situation and made their dream turn into a reality.

Listed below are the 49ers annual award winners since its inception in 2005:

Herrion
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Winners
2005 - T Thomas Herrion 2006 - T Harvey Dahl 2007 - CB Tarell Brown
2008 - WR Dominique Zeigler 2009 - FB Brit Miller 2010 - RB Anthony Dixon/ DT Will Tukuafu
2011 - CB Cory Nelms 2012 - WR Kyle Williams 2013 - S Eric Reid
2014 - LB Chris Borland 2015 - S Jaquiski Tartt 2016 - DL DeForest Buckner
2017 - DB Adrian Colbert 2018 - Nick Mullens 2019 - LB Dre Greenlaw
2020 - LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles 2021 - WR Jauan Jennings 2022 - QB Brock Purdy
2023 - S Ji'Ayir Brown

The Bobb McKittrick Award

This award is given annually to the 49ers offensive lineman who best exemplifies the dedication, excellence and commitment of offensive line coach Bobb McKittrick, a five-time Super Bowl Champion.

In 1999, the San Francisco 49ers, under the direction of Bill Walsh, established the Bobb McKittrick Award. The award is meant to honor those offensive linemen who have best represented the courage, intensity and sacrifice displayed by the late Coach McKittrick during his 21 years of service with the 49ers.

"Bobb gave distinguished service to the organization since our renaissance in 1979. He was a vital factor in five Super Bowl Championships, the evolution of a dynasty and in the production of some of the finest offensive linemen in football. Offensive linemen don't receive the recognition they so richly deserve. This gives us a venue to honor their sacrifices and achievements," Walsh said.

A bronze plaque of McKittrick hangs in the 49ers locker room surrounded by the photographs of the McKittrick Award winners.

Listed below are the 49ers annual award winners since its inception in 1981:

McKittrick
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Winners
1981 - Keith Fahnhorst 1983 - John Ayers 1984 - Randy Cross
1985 - Fred Quillan 1986 - Keith Fahnhorst 1987 - Bubba Paris
1988 - Steve Wallace 1989 - Harris Barton 1990 - Guy McIntyre
1991 - Jesse Sapolu 1992 - Guy McIntyre 1993 - Harris Barton
1994 - Derrick Deese 1995 - Kirk Scrafford 1996 - Jesse Sapolu
1997 - Ray Brown 1998 - Chris Dalman 1999 - Ray Brown
2000 - Jeremy Newberry 2001 - Ray Brown 2002 - Scott Gragg
2003 - Jeremy Newberry 2004 - Kyle Kosier 2005 - Jeremy Newberry
2006 - Eric Heitmann 2007 - Eric Heitmann 2008 - Eric Heitmann
2009 - David Baas 2010 - David Baas 2011 - Jonathan Goodwin
2012 - Anthony Davis 2013 - Alex Boone 2014 - Joe Staley
2015 - Joe Staley 2016 - Zane Beadles 2017 - Daniel Kilgore 
2018 - Laken Tomlinson 2019 - Mike Person 2020 - Laken Tomlinson
2021 - Laken Tomlinson 2022 - Jake Brendel 2023 - OL Colton McKivitz

Garry Niver Award

The Garry Niver Award is presented annually by the San Francisco Chapter of the Pro Football Writers of America to a 49ers player for his cooperation and professional style in helping the pro football writers do their jobs. The award is named after pro football writer, Garry Niver, who was a long-time beat writer who covered the 49ers for the San Mateo Times.

Listed below are the 49ers annual award winners since its inception in 1993:

Niver
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Winners
1993 - C/G Jesse Sapolu 1994 - S Tim McDonald 1995 - QB Steve Young
1996 - T Steve Wallace 1997 - G Ray Brown 1998 - S Tim McDonald
1999 - WR Jerry Rice 2000 - S Lance Schulters 2001 - QB Jeff Garcia
2002 - DT Dana Stubblefield 2003 - QB Jeff Garcia 2004 - LB Jeff Ulbrich
2005 - LB Julian Peterson 2006 - DE Bryant Young 2007 - RB Frank Gore
2008 - C Eric Heitmann 2009 - QB Alex Smith/ QB Shaun Hill 2010 - LB Takeo Spikes
2011 - S Donte Whitner 2012 - RB Frank Gore 2013 - S Donte Whitner
2014 - RB Frank Gore 2015 - WR Torrey Smith 2016 - S Antoine Bethea
2017 - WR Marquise Goodwin 2018 - T Joe Staley 2019 - CB Richard Sherman
2020 - T Trent Williams 2021 - QB Jimmy Garoppolo & T Trent Williams 2022 - FB Kyle Juszczyk
2023 - DL Nick Bosa

​Bill Walsh Award

The Bill Walsh Award was established in 2004 in honor of San Francisco's Hall of Fame Head Coach Bill Walsh. Walsh served as the team's head coach for 10 seasons from 1979-88. In that time, he compiled a record of 102-63-1 and led the team to three Super Bowls. He was twice named Coach of the Year (1981, 1984) and was later named Coach of the Decade for the 1980s. The award, which is voted on by coaches only, is given to the 49ers team MVP, honoring his outstanding individual annual performance.

Listed below are the 49ers annual award winners since its inception in 2004:

Walsh
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Winners:
2004 - DE Bryant Young 2005 - LB Derek Smith/ K Joe Nedney 2006 - RB Frank Gore/ CB Walt Harris
2007 - RB Frank Gore/ LB Patrick Willis 2008 - DE Justin Smith 2009 - LB Patrick Willis
2010 - RB Frank Gore 2011 - DT Justin Smith 2012 - LB Aldon Smith
2013 - WR Anquan Boldin 2014 - S Antoine Bethea 2015 - K Phil Dawson
2016 - T Joe Staley 2017 - FB Kyle Juszczyk 2018 - TE George Kittle
2019 - DL DeForest Buckner 2020 - LB Fred Warner 2021 - DL Nick Bosa
2022 - LB Fred Warner 2023 - RB Christian McCaffrey