NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Titans cornerback Logan Ryan did everything right in his first half sack of Patriots quarterback Tom Brady in Sunday's win.
The first person he heard from was Brady himself.
"When I hit him, as he was going down, he said, 'Good sack, Log,'" Ryan of Brady, his former teammate with the Patriots.
On Wednesday night, Ryan heard from the NFL -- he'd been selected by a panel of former players as the Week 10 recipient of the NFL Way to Play award, which promotes proper playing technique while protecting players from unnecessary risk.
The 2018 season marks the official launch of NFL Way to Play.
"I think it's a way to show the kids – in youth football, in high school football – the right way to play football and how to tackle correctly," Ryan said. "So a shout-out to my little league coach for the Jersey Pine Wildcats, Mike McGough, for teaching me at seven years old how to tackle with my head up, with my shoulders first.
"I think the way I sacked Brady on that play -- that was the play they highlighted – led to me being the winner of it. So it's pretty cool. … I think just leading with my shoulder, and the way they are talking about sacking the quarterback these days. I think it was a good form tackle, which is what they are looking for."
The award allows Ryan to donate $2,500 to his high school football program through an equipment grant.
He'll send that to his high school (Eastern High in New Jersey).
Ryan informed the school's athletic director on Wednesday night, after he received notice from the NFL.
"It was a great surprise for me," Ryan said with a smile. "But my good, fundamental, sound technique is giving back to my high school."
