Houston Texans tackle David Quessenberry, who has fought a three-year battle with non-Hodgkins lymphoma, has been named as the winner of teh George Halas Courage Award. Quessenberry, 26,has been on Houston's non-football illness list since 2014, and he returned to team activities on May 22 two months after completing chemotherapy treatments. The list of players that Quessenberry beat out for the Halas award has some A-listers on it, including Cameron Wake, Dennis Pitta, Jason Pierre-Paul and Tom Brady. Chiefs' safety Eric Berry won the award in 2016 after playing through the same condition.

Quessenberry, a San Jose State University alum, has had a career defined by perseverance and adversity. Quessenberry was a walk-on at San Jose State. In fact, he didn't even have a position. Eventually, he settled in as a left tackle and an anchor of the SJSU line. The Texans took Quessenberry in the sixth round of the NFL draft, 176th overall. His rookie season, he was sidelined for the year with a foot injury. The next season, he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. In 2015, he went into remission, and that brings him to 2017. With his treatment complete, barring any setbacks, Quessenberry will be on the Texans' roster throughout training camp and into the preseason. It's an amazing feat, and Quessenberry has accepted the award with the humility that one would expect from a player that's been through so much.

Quessenberry also acknowledged how special it is to be back practicing with the Texans. In a league where players often view OTAs and training camp as a chore and something designed to wear players down, it's important to remember that it's a blessing to be able to perform at that level. Something that Quessenberry seems intent on reminding himself.