New England is honoring two of its most experienced players.
With news about the New England Patriots’ coaching change dominating headlines, one story flew largely under the radar. As was announced by the organization last week, center David Andrews and cornerback Jonathan Jones have been named co-recipients of the 2024 Ed Block Courage Award.
The award, named after the Baltimore Colts’ long-time athletic trainer, is given out annually by each team to players who “best exemplify the principles of courage and sportsmanship while also serving as a source of inspiration.” While usually presented to one player only, the Patriots decided to name both Andrews and Jones as winners this year.
Andrews, 31, originally joined the Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2015. By his second season he had earned the team’s starting center position, and never looked back. While he was forced to miss the entire 2019 campaign after blood clots were discovered in his lungs, he returned to the lineup the following year to continue playing a key role for the team.
In total, Andrews has started a combined 127 regular season and playoff games for the Patriots. A seven-time captain, who played every offensive snap during the 2023 season, he helped New England win a pair of Super Bowls.
Jones, 30, signed with the Patriots as a rookie free agent one year after Andrews. A two-time Super Bowl winner who started at both slot and perimeter cornerback over the course of his career, he has 123 in-game appearances on his résumé. Jones intercepted 11 passes — including one returned for a touchdown — and forced eight fumbles with two recoveries.
In 2023, he was named as the Patriots’ Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee and also received the Ron Burton Community Service Award.
Along with the other winners from around the NFL, the pair will be honored at an awards banquet on April 7. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Ed Block Courage Award Foundation’s Courage House National Support Network For Kids.
Andrews and Jones are the second pair to win the award after James White and Devin McCourty (2020-21). Other recent Patriots winners include Jakobi Meyers (2022-23), Brandon King (2021-22), Julian Edelman (2019-20), Nate Ebner (2018-19), Matthew Slater (2017-18), Nate Solder (2016-17), Jerod Mayo (2015-16), Rob Gronkowski (2014-15), Sebastian Vollmer (2013-14), Logan Mankins (2012-13), Marcus Cannon (2011-12), Wes Welker (2010-11) and Tom Brady (2009-10).
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