Houston Texans offensive lineman and La Costa Canyon High School graduate David Quessenberry has been selected as the NFL’s 2017 George Halas Award winner after overcoming a three-year battle with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
The Halas Award is given to an NFL player, coach or staff member who overcomes the most adversity to succeed.
In June 2014, Quessenberry experienced fatigue and persistent cough during workouts with the Texans, and was diagnosed with cancer. He spent the 2014-16 seasons on the Texans’ non-football illness list while battling the disease.
After completing chemotherapy this April, Quessenberry is back on the field with the Texans. He recently participated in the Texans’ OTA sessions for the first time since his 2014 diagnosis.
After the Halas Award winner was announced, Quessenberry released the following statement.
“It’s such an honor to be put in the group of men who have won the Halas Award before me. Some legends of our game have received this award and I’m just honored and very humbled to be a part of it. I’m really proud to receive this award, not just for my fight and everything that I went through, but also to represent everyone who helped me get back to playing football. The entire Houston Texans organization stood behind me when I felt like the furthest thing from a football player. They gave me that motivation to see this thing through and beat it and get back to the field where I belong and where they wanted me to be. I’m just so proud to be back doing what I love and honored to receive this award.”
The 26 year old Quessenberry, who was born in La Jolla, graduated from La Costa Canyon High School in Carlsbad in 2008.
Local
The Halas Award is named for George Halas, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, who was associated with the Chicago Bears and NFL from their inception in 1920 until his death in 1983 as an owner, manager, player and promoter. Halas won 324 games and six NFL titles in 40 seasons as a coach.
