Chicago-based PFWA chapter renames award after late Chicago Bears reporter Jeff Dickerson

The Chicago chapter of the Pro Football Writers of America has renamed its annual Good Guy Award in honor of longtime ESPN Chicago Bears reporter Jeff Dickerson, who died last week of colon cancer at age 43.

The Jeff Dickerson Good Guy Award will be given to Chicago Bears players who exemplify cooperation and professionalism with local media. Tashaun Gipson and Robert Quinn were announced as the first co-winners of the newly named award Wednesday.

"The award this year is even that much more special to us because we lost one of our best last week who had been a member of our group for 20 years and was the definition of a good guy," PFWA chapter chair Hub Arkush said. "If anyone in the history of the media represented the phrase 'good guy,' it was JD."

Dickerson's wife, Caitlin, died in 2019, also from cancer. The outpouring of support for Dickerson's 11-year-old son, Parker, has resulted in more than $1.1 million in donations being raised on a GoFundMe page.

Gipson and Quinn were given plaques to commemorate the award.

Gipson started 11 games at safety for the Bears, intercepting two passes, including one in last week's win over the New York Giants.Quinn set the franchise single-season record with 18 sacks.

Both players said they were humbled to accept the award.