What you are looking at is a humble effort to do something small for people who deserve so much more. In simplest terms, "The Toughest," is a new year-end package for Esquire—an attempt to identify and honor 25 individuals or groups (plus one horse!) who did something great this year. Whether they put their lives on the line, survived under difficult circumstances, set out to make a stand, or by some stroke of luck prevailed when all odds were against them, these outstanding individuals—including the first soldier to die in direct combat with ISIS, a teenager who survived a plane crash then hiked two days to safety, a 16-year-old swimmer who is smashing records, and badass stars like JJ Watt and Serena Williams—made their mark on the past year. Some are household names, while others you're likely meeting for the first time. Either way, we're proud to honor them all here. They are The Toughest: 2015. —The Editors
* This article is part of The Code, an editorial partnership between Esquire and Ford F-150.
