Alex Singleton’s recovery from surgery to remove a cancerous tumour in November has now been recognized by the people who know his work best: his teammates.
The Denver Broncos linebacker was voted the recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award after a season that has already reinforced just how important he is to the defence. Through eight games this season, Singleton led the NFL with 101 total tackles, a reminder that his play has remained as steady as ever even while he has handled a major health setback off the field.
Why the award matters
The Ed Block Courage Award is a team honor, and this one reflects more than production. It acknowledges what Singleton had to overcome after his surgery in November, then return to the field and continue doing his job at a high level. For a player who had not always received league-wide recognition, the vote from his teammates carries added weight.
Vance Joseph said he saw this coming. He said Singleton has played good football for a long time and that it was a shame he is only now being recognized for it. Joseph added that he has watched enough film to know Singleton has been one of the best linebackers in football for some time.
Singleton also made clear how much that support means to him. He said Joseph’s backing is everything and described him as a huge reason for where his career has gone.
A long route to this moment
Singleton’s path has included plenty of stops. He was selected sixth overall in the 2016 CFL Draft, won the Grey Cup with the Calgary Stampeders in 2018 and later built an NFL career that has lasted eight seasons. That stretch includes three seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles and five with the Denver Broncos.
Across 103 career games, Singleton has compiled 869 tackles, 30 tackles for loss, seven sacks, three forced fumbles, three interceptions and two defensive touchdowns. He also has two CFL all-star selections on his résumé, along with 171 tackles in his CFL career before making the jump to the NFL full time.
Now 32, Singleton has become one of the Broncos’ most reliable defenders. He said the balance of when tackles come can vary from game to game, but he also pointed to the team’s overall defensive work, noting that over the last seven weeks every tackle has come from a player making a play.
That is what makes this award feel fitting. The Broncos saw the full picture: the health setback, the return, and the production. Singleton’s season has been about more than numbers, but the numbers still tell an important part of the story.
