2005 Len Dawson
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While Len Dawson is known as one of the most prolific quarterbacks in the history of the National Football League, he is perhaps best remembered for his outstanding performance in leading the Kansas City Chiefs to a 23-7 upset over the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IV.  A former Purdue star who led the Big 10 in passing and total offense for three seasons, Dawson was the first-round draft choice of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1957.  He also played for the Cleveland Browns before finding his niche with the Dallas Texans of the American Football League in 1962.  He led the Texans, who became the Kansas City Chiefs the next year, to AFL Championships in 1962, 1966 and 1969.

Noted for his calm, poised approach to every situation, “Lenny the Cool” was often praised by his coach, Hank Stram, as “the most accurate passer in pro football.”  His record backs up that claim.  Dawson won four AFL individual passing honors in 1962, 1964, 1966 and 1968 and still holds Chiefs career marks for attempts, completions, passing yards and touchdowns.  He was selected to play in six AFL All-Star games and the 1972 AFC-NFC Pro Bowl.  An All-AFL selection in both 1962 and 1966, Dawson was named the AFL Player of the Year in 1962.  During his career, he played in 210 games, completing 2,136 of 3,741 passes for 28,711 yards with 239 touchdowns and 183 interceptions, while rushing for 1,293 yards and nine scores on 294 carries.  Dawson was named the 1973 NFL Man of the Year, which is awarded annually to an outstanding player-citizen who best combines on-the-field performance with service off the field.  He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987 and the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 1994.

After playing one of the longest careers in professional football history (19 years), Dawson retired in 1976 and began hosting HBO’s Inside the NFL until 2001.  He currently serves as a sports anchor in Kansas City, a job he originally began in 1966 while still playing for the Kansas City Chiefs, and provides color commentary for regional radio broadcasts of Chiefs’ games.

Dawson is active in the community and focuses much of his energy on charity work, especially those that help needy children.  Later in life, Dawson came face-to-face with another opponent – prostate cancer.  Since overcoming this life-threatening illness, he has become a spokesperson for the American Cancer Society.  Dawson was born in Alliance, Ohio on June 20, 1935.  He and his wife have two grown children and reside in Kansas City.

2004 Archie Manning

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Archie Manning’s warm personality, drive and sense of humor have inspired people far and wide.  He attended the University of Mississippi, where he was named an All-American Quarterback and is the only Ole Miss player to have his number retired.  In 1971, Manning was the second player chosen in the NFL draft – the number one draft choice of the New Orleans Saints.  He set Saints passing records, played in two Pro Bowls and was named the NFL Most Valuable Player in 1978.  Manning was the first player in Saints history to be inducted into the Louisiana Superdome Wall of Fame.  He concluded his 15-year career in 1985.  While in pro football, Manning received the Byron “Whizzer” White Humanitarian Award, the Bart Starr Humanitarian Award, the Spirit of Good Sports Award from the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association, and was named one of 10 Outstanding Young American by the U.S. Jaycees.  He was also drafted four times by major league baseball.

Manning was voted Mississippi’s Greatest All-Time Athlete in 1992, and recently was named Mississippi’s Most Popular Athlete of the Century.  He was elected to the 50-Year All-South Team (1940-1990), named one of the Top 25 Athletes of the Century in Louisiana and, along with son Peyton, named among the 100 All-Time Greatest College Football Players.  Manning was inducted into the National Football Foundation College Hall of Fame and is a member of other Halls of Fame including Louisiana and Mississippi.  He was recently selected as one of 10 outstanding New Orleanians by Family Service of Greater New Orleans and named Hornblower of the Year by the Public Relations Society of America (New Orleans Chapter). 

Manning currently serves in public relations and consulting capacities for several local, regional and national companies.  He hosts four Archie Manning Cystic Fibrosis benefit golf tournaments in Louisiana and Mississippi and is active in a wide variety of charitable and civic causes.  His community activities include Louisiana Special Olympics, the New Orleans Area Boy Scout Council, the Salvation Army, United Way Speakers Bureau, NOKIA Sugar Bowl Committee, New Orleans Sports Foundation, and National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Board of Directors.

Manning and his son, Peyton, have written a book entitled “Manning: A Father, His Sons and A Football Legacy”.  He and his sons, Cooper, Peyton and Eli, also operate the Manning Passing Academy, a summer camp for high school quarterbacks and receivers. Archie and his wife, Olivia, reside in New Orleans.

2003 Terry Bradshaw
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Terry Bradshaw graduated from Louisiana Tech University in 1970, where he still holds the single-season passing and total offense records. He was the first player chosen in the 1970 draft and became one of the most prolific quarterbacks in history - leading the Steelers to four Super Bowl championships, six AFC championship games and eight straight playoff appearances (1972-79). He was at his best in post-season games. Under his direction, Pittsburgh enjoyed Super Bowl championships in 1975, 1976, 1979 and 1980, making him a perfect 4-0 in Super Bowl play. He still holds the Super Bowl passing records for average gain per attempt in career and average gain in a game. Bradshaw, a two-time Super Bowl MVP, was a four-time All-Pro. He retired just prior to the 1984 season.

In 1989, Bradshaw was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. In April, 2001 Bradshaw added yet another prestigious distinction as he was presented with the NFL Alumni’s Career Achievement Award.

Bradshaw serves a dual role of co-host and analyst on FOX NFL SUNDAY. His work there has earned him Sports Emmy Awards in the Outstanding Sports Personality/Analyst category in 1999 and 2001.

Bradshaw, a widely sought after motivational speaker, has also written five books, including his acclaimed autobiography, Keeping it Simple (2002).

2002 Bart Starr
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Bryan Bartlett Starr graduated from the University of Alabama in 1956 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education, was named to the Dean’s List his junior and senior years and was a four-year letterman. He played football for Bear Bryant and led the Crimson Tide to a 61-6 victory over Syracuse in the Orange Bowl during his freshman year. Starr didn’t see much action during his last two years at college, which explains his 17th round draft selection by the Green Bay Packers. From 1956 to 1972, he directed the Packers to six Western Division titles, five World Championships and two Super Bowl victories where he was voted Most Valuable Player (MVP) in both games. He won the National Football League’s (NFL) MVP award in 1966, made six Pro Bowl teams, and won the league passing title three times. He retired as the winningest quarterback in the history of professional football.

Each year, on the Saturday before the Super Bowl, the Bart Starr Award is presented to an NFL player who “exemplifies outstanding character and leadership in the home, on the field and in the community” by Athletes In Action, which hosts the Super Bowl Breakfast.

Starr and his wife, Cherry, co-founded Rawhide Boys Ranch in New London, Wisconsin. Starr is currently the chairman of Healthcare Realty Services, a director of Sentry Insurance, and a trustee of American Sports Medicine Institute.

2001 Roger Staubach
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Roger Staubach was the inaugural recipient of the Davey O'Brien Legends Award. The Legends Award was established to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Davey O'Brien Foundation.

" Roger Staubach epitomizes a quarterback legend, and is the ideal recipient of the first O'Brien Legends Award," said Scott Murray, chairman of the O'Brien Legends Award committee and sports director at NBC5. "Each year, this award will recognize a quarterback who has made a significant contribution to the game of football, has distinguished himself as an extraordinary leader, and demonstrates exemplary conduct and reputation both on and off the field . . . just as the man for whom the award is named."

Staubach, who won the 1963 Heisman Trophy along with the Walter Camp and Maxwell Awards as a quarterback at the United States Naval Academy, served four years in the Navy before embarking on a Hall of Fame career with the Dallas Cowboys. He led the club to four NFC titles, two Super Bowl wins and was named NFL MVP or Player of Year numerous times. Staubach was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985. He is the Chairman and CEO of the The Staubach Company, a full-service real estate strategy and services firm headquartered in Dallas, Texas. Staubach's work in the community is well known not only in the Dallas-Fort Worth area but nationwide and he serves as a board member for many companies.

"As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the O'Brien Foundation, the addition of a Legends Award seems a fitting tribute to our namesake, who was a role model throughout his life, both on and off the field. The athletes we honor at the high school, collegiate and professional level all live up to the high standards set by Davey O'Brien," said Pat Evans, president of the Davey O'Brien Foundation.