2025 Awards of Excellence
June 25, 2025 - June 26, 2025
A Little About
2025 Awards of Excellence
Individuals from five categories who have helped drive the accomplishments of their profession, individual NFL Clubs and the sport of pro football have been selected to receive Awards of Excellence under a Pro Football Hall of Fame program that recognizes significant contributors to the game.
The 2025 cocktail reception and awards luncheon to celebrate the careers of the honorees will take place June 25-26 in Canton.
The Hall of Fame established the Awards of Excellence in 2022 to recognize significant contributors to the game in “behind-the-scenes” job roles. The program honors career Assistant Coaches, Athletic Trainers, Equipment Managers, Film/Video Directors and Public Relations Directors. The five groups presenting the Awards of Excellence created their own selection committees and set their own criteria for choosing new members. The Hall of Fame does not participate in any nominating or voting.
Also at the awards luncheon, the Pro Football Hall of Fame will honor the winner of its annual photo contest. Photographs taken during the 2024 National Football League season in the “Action” and “Feature” categories and entered in the contest are eligible for awards. A panel of professional photographers will judge the entries and pick first-, second- and third-place finishers in each category.
The Photograph of the Year — chosen from the first-place winners in the Action and Feature categories — will be deemed winner of the 57th annual Dave Boss Award of Excellence. That photographer will be invited to Canton for the June 25-26 program, and his/her image will be placed on display in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Awards of Excellence honorees in the Class of 2025 and their primary NFL team(s) are:
The 2025 cocktail reception and awards luncheon to celebrate the careers of the honorees will take place June 25-26 in Canton.
The Hall of Fame established the Awards of Excellence in 2022 to recognize significant contributors to the game in “behind-the-scenes” job roles. The program honors career Assistant Coaches, Athletic Trainers, Equipment Managers, Film/Video Directors and Public Relations Directors. The five groups presenting the Awards of Excellence created their own selection committees and set their own criteria for choosing new members. The Hall of Fame does not participate in any nominating or voting.
Also at the awards luncheon, the Pro Football Hall of Fame will honor the winner of its annual photo contest. Photographs taken during the 2024 National Football League season in the “Action” and “Feature” categories and entered in the contest are eligible for awards. A panel of professional photographers will judge the entries and pick first-, second- and third-place finishers in each category.
The Photograph of the Year — chosen from the first-place winners in the Action and Feature categories — will be deemed winner of the 57th annual Dave Boss Award of Excellence. That photographer will be invited to Canton for the June 25-26 program, and his/her image will be placed on display in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Awards of Excellence honorees in the Class of 2025 and their primary NFL team(s) are:
- Assistant Coaches – Dick Hoak (Steelers), Elijah Pitts (Rams and Bills) and Jim McNally (Bengals).
- Athletic Trainers – Ed Block (Colts), Pepper Burruss (Jets and Packers) and John Norwig (Steelers).
- Equipment Managers – Tom Gray (Bengals), Dennis Ryan (Vikings) and George Luongo (Patriots).
- Film/Video Directors – Larry Clerico (Rams), Jon Dubé (Ravens and Browns) and David Hack (Dolphins).
- Public Relations Directors – Pete Abitante (NFL Office), Jason Jenkins (Dolphins) and Bill Keenist (Lions).