San Francisco 49ers kicker Phil Dawson was announced Thursday as the winner of the Bill Walsh Award for the team’s most valuable player.
Dawson, who is a scheduled free agent, made 24 of 27 field-goal attempts (two of his misses were blocked), and he converted 20 of 21 extra-point attempts.
“Any award with Bill Walsh’s name attached to it is a big deal,” Dawson said in a statement through the 49ers. “In my three years in San Francisco, I’ve grown to learn even more about coach Walsh and respect him all the more. So that’s a tremendous honor in and of itself. But, then to consider that the coaches were the ones voting on this, just puts it over the top.
“In most places, the kicker is just kind of an afterthought or a necessary evil. I’ve always tried to just be a football player and just come to work and do my job. This means quite a bit given the fact that I am a kicker. There are certainly other guys on the team who are deserving and I hold them in high regard. So, when you mix all that together, it’s a pretty special deal.”
--Wide receiver Anquan Boldin was named as the winner of the Len Eshmont Award, long considered the team’s most prestigious honor. It is presented annually to the player who best exemplifies the inspirational and courageous play of Eshmont, an original member of the 49ers’ 1946 team.
“This really means a lot to me,” Boldin said in a statement. “Those are the guys that get a chance to see you everyday, day in and day out, get to see you put in work. So, it’s big to earn the respect of your peers and an honor that they voted me the winner.”
Boldin was also the 49ers’ Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee for his commitment to philanthropy and community involvement.
--Pro Bowl left tackle Joe Staley was recognized as the Bobb McKittrick Award winner for best representing the courage, intensity and sacrifice displayed by the long-time 49ers offensive line coach.
“It’s an honor to win the Bobb McKittrick Award,” Staley said. “It’s a very long standing tradition with what Bob McKittrick meant to this organization and coaching the offensive line. It stands for a lot.”
--Defensive back Jimmie Ward was named the winner of the Hazeltine Iron Man Award, named for former linebacker Matt Hazeltine, passed away in 1987 from ALS. Walsh established the award in his honor that year. The award is presented to the most courageous and inspirational defensive player as voted upon by the defensive coaches.
“First of all, I’d like to thank the defensive coaches who voted for me to win this award,” Ward said. “It’s a real honor to have any award when you’re in the NFL, especially one voted on by your coaches. So, it’s a humbling accomplishment in the second year of my NFL career.”
--Linebacker NaVorro Bowman won the Ed Block Courage Award. The award is presented in his name each year to the player that exemplified a commitment to sportsmanship and courage. Ed Block Courage Award winners from each of the 32 NFL teams are honored at a banquet in Baltimore, Maryland.
--Safety Jaquiski Tartt was named as the Thomas Herrion Memorial Award as the rookie or first-year player for taking advantage of every opportunity and turning a dream into reality. Coaches vote on the award.
--Nose tackle Ian Williams was named the winner of the Perry/Yonamine Unity Award for exhibiting an exceptional commitment to promoting unity within the team and the community. The Perry/Yonamine Unity Award is named for the former 49ers players and pioneers of unity and diversity, Joe “The Jet” Perry and Wally Yonamine, and is voted on by the players.
“It means a lot to be the recipient of the Perry/Yonamine Unity Award,” Williams said. “Knowing what your teammates think of you, not even telling you to your face but just knowing what they think of you in their heads, how respected you are in the locker room, that means a lot to me.”
--Punter Bradley Pinion and defensive lineman Quinton Dial were honored with the team’s community relations service awards. Tight end Vance McDonald and his wife, Kendi, along with WR Torrey Smith and his wife, Chanel, with their son T.J., are co-recipients of the family award. Dennis Brown was presented with the alumnus award for the fifth consecutive year, while Eric Heitmann and his wife, Emily, with their daughters, Ellie and Evie, received the family alumnus award.
