The Pro Football Writers of America have an affinity for giving out awards. Arguably the most prestigious of them is the George Halas Award, given to an NFL player, coach, or staff member who had to overcome a great deal of adversity to succeed.
Among the five finalists for the award this year are two members of the Pittsburgh Steelers: running back James Conner, and inside linebacker Ryan Shazier. Conner battled Hodgkin’s lymphoma while he was at Pitt. Shazier continues and ongoing recovery process from a severe spinal injury suffered in December of 2017.