LAS VEGAS (AFLWA) – The birth of a child is supposed to be a moment to celebrate, and Tampa Bay Storm linebacker Nyle Wiren and his wife, Caroline, were getting ready to welcome their first child in May.

Wiren

Tragically, Caroline died from complications shortly after giving birth to a healthy son. She was 34.

Wiren managed to finish the season, and the Arena Football League Writers Association (AFLWA) has honored him with the Al Lucas Courage Award.

"It's a great honor for Nyle," said Storm teammate and close friend Lawrence Samuels. "I cannot think of someone more deserving."

This is the third year the AFLWA has given outs its Al Lucas Courage Award. It's in honor of the former Los Angeles Avengers lineman who died following a play in a 2005 game. The previous winners were Grand Rapids Rampage fullback/linebacker Travis Reece (2005) and Las Vegas Gladiators fullback/linebacker Marlion Jackson (2006).

The AFLWA, founded at the start of the 2004 season, is a national organization made up of media members who cover the Arena Football League. Mark Anderson of the Las Vegas Review-Journal is the AFLWA’s founder and executive director.