Cincinnati Bengals quarterbackJoe Burrow, who had an outstanding season in 2024 after missing most of the second half of the 2023 season after a wrist injury, was selected as the 2025 George Halas Award winner by the Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA).

Burrow, the 57th Halas Award winner, is the third member of the Bengals franchise to receive the honor from the PFWA, joining Tim Krumrie (1990) and Mike Zimmer (2010).

Other 2025 finalists for the Halas Award were Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb, Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold and Los Angeles Chargers running back J.K. Dobbins.

The Halas Award is given to an NFL player, coach or staff member who overcomes the most adversity to succeed. 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)

ABOUT THE PFWA

In its 62nd season in 2025, the Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA) is the official voice of pro football writers, promoting and fighting for access to NFL personnel to best serve the public. The PFWA is made up of accredited writers who cover the NFL and the 32 teams daily. Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post is the PFWA president for the 2025-26 seasons and the organization's 32nd president. Mike Jones (The Athletic) is the PFWA's first vice president, Stephen Holder (ESPN.com) is the second vice president, Lindsay Jones (The Ringer) is the advisor to the president and Mike Sando (The Athletic) is the secretary-treasurer. At-large board members include Jeff Legwold (ESPN.com), Joe Reedy (Associated Press), Calvin Watkins (Dallas Morning News) and Charean Williams (ProFootballTalk.com). Follow the PFWA at ProFootballWriters.org and/X at @PFWAwriters.