Artie Burns earns Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2017 Ed Block Courage award
Artie Burns has become a dominant member of the Pittsburgh Steelers and has earned one of the team’s most prominent awards.
On Tuesday, the team’s second-year cornerback was award the Ed Block Courage award, voted on by the players to a player who represents role models of inspiration, sportsmanship, and courage.
Burns, who lost his mother during his senior year at Miami and who’s father is currently spending jail time, has done way more in his life than football. The 2016 first-round pick has become one of the most feared defensive backs in the AFC, but off the field, he’s taken on a challenge most could not.
After his mother’s death, Burns took on the responsibility of raising his two younger brothers as well as his own two boys, A.J. and Saint Cario. Along with his girlfriend, Burns is currently only 22-years-old raising four children in Pittsburgh.
"“It was definitely challenging,” Burns told Teresa Varley of Steelers.com “It was hard. I had to stick to the grind, stay focused, and never drift off because if you drift a little bit you fall away from the main mission. I tried to stay focused. There are always distractions."
"“My mom passed right in the middle of my senior season at Miami, when the season started to get hot. I knew my teammates needed me. That made me start to think about more than myself. I knew my brothers needed me, I knew everybody else needed me. I had to deal with my feelings, but be there for everybody else. That helped me get through it, having to be there for others, others being there for me.”"
On Tuesday, head coach Mike Tomlin presented Burns with the award at the Art Rooney Courage House Luncheon. Although Burns has earned the respect of his teammates, Coach Tomlin is just as impressed with the way his corner is taking care of his life off the field as he is on it.
"“I am continually amazed at how he handles it all,” Tomlin told Varley. “I have two teenage sons but I am 45 years old. To watch him balance the responsibility of being a guardian for his brothers, and support them the way he does at their high school events and football games and things, is impressive. The way he is able to get those parental-like things done while doing the things he has to get done, is simply amazing.”"
Next: Mike Tomlin discusses Bryant's role moving forward
Burns continues to make the most out of his young career, and with so much pushing him to succeed, Pittsburgh is sure they have one of the brightest young minds in football on their side.