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Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Chris Long was named the 2018 Good Guy Award winner by the Professional Football Writers of America on Thursday. Long is the 14th recipient of the PFWA's Good Guy Award and the first member of the reigning Super Bowl champion Eagles to be honored.
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Lauded for his dealing with the media during Philadelphia's Super Bowl run, Long was selected from a field that included Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle Calais Campbell, Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins, New York Jets quarterback Josh McCown and two recent retirees -- tackle Joe Thomas of the Cleveland Browns and tight end Jason Witten of the Dallas Cowboys.
The Good Guy Award is given to an NFL player for his qualities and professional style in helping pro football writers do their jobs. The award has been presented annually by the PFWA since 2005.
"Chris Long was honest, thoughtful, and available to reporters throughout the season. He understood the value of his platform and the power of his words, and he used both to discuss a wide range of topics," said Zach Berman, who covers the Eagles for the Philadelphia Inquirer/Daily News/Philly.com. "Whether it was the Eagles defense, the team's underdog status, the unrest in Charlottesville, his philanthropic endeavors, or his involvement in and support of social justice issues, Long's insight and perspective were appreciated during his first year in Philadelphia."
Long led the Eagles with four forced fumbles and was second on the team with 38 quarterback pressures/hits in the regular season. He had 32 total tackles and five sacks.
In the playoffs, Long tied for the team lead with 13 total quarterback pressures/hits, including eight in the NFC Championship Game vs. the Minnesota Vikings.
The 10th-year veteran became one of just four players in NFL history to appear in back-to-back Super Bowls on different teams and win both.
