Pro Football Hall of Fame honors 3 equipment managers
Associated Press
CANTON, Ohio (AP) — Three equipment managers will be honored with the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Awards of Excellence for the 2025 class.
Tom Gray, Dennis Ryan and George Luongo were picked Tuesday as the equipment managers in the fourth class for the Awards of Excellence.
Gray worked for Cincinnati since the team's inception in the AFL in 1968 and attended all 644 games in the preseason, regular season and playoffs through 1999.
Ryan began his career as a teenager with Minnesota in 1975 as a part-time employee. In 1981, he became the NFL's youngest equipment manager at 21 years old. He stayed with the organization for 47 seasons, accumulating a streak of 705 consecutive games worked until COVID-19 protocols kept him off the sideline.
Luongo worked as an equipment manager from the Patriots' origin in the AFL in 1960 until retiring after the 1993 season and never missed a game day.
Longtime assistant coaches Dick Hoak, Elijah Pitts and Jim McNally; public relations directors Pete Abitante, Jason Jenkins and Bill Keenist; and athletic trainers Ed Block, Pepper Burruss and John Norwig were previously selected for awards that will be handed out at a ceremony in June. The Hall will later announce winners for film and video directors.
___
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL
recommended
in this topic
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
21 minutes ago
- USA Today
Report: Shedeur Sanders has path to winning Browns QB competition
Report: Shedeur Sanders has path to winning Browns QB competition Show Caption Hide Caption Shedeur Sanders not feeling pressure from his doubters After sliding in the NFL Draft, Shedeur Sanders explains why he's not bothered by his many doubters as Browns career begins. Sports Pulse Shedeur Sanders might've tumbled down the draft board, but he could be flying up the Cleveland Browns' quarterback depth chart. The former Colorado quarterback's draft slide ended when the Browns selected him in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft with the 144th overall pick. Players taken that late don't typically have a great success rate at becoming starters in the pros, but Sanders isn't your average Day 3 pick. Some have speculated Sanders slid because of his family, attitude or talent. Others have noted that he doesn't figure to be a starting quarterback, which makes the noise surrounding his presence on a team an unnecessary distraction. Regardless, Sanders is in camp with the Browns. On a team without a clear starting quarterback atop the depth chart, that means it's a wide-open competition – one that the fifth-rounder has a path to winning, according to ESPN's Kimberley A. Martin. "Listen, in that building, there are people who believe that Shedeur can 100 percent be the starter of this football team," Martin said on ESPN's "Get Up" on Wednesday. "You said it's incumbent upon the Browns to put him in the situation, it's also incumbent upon Shedeur to do the work, which, talking to people in that building, they've said he is soaking up everything like a sponge." To do so, Sanders will have to surpass Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett and fellow 2025 draft pick Dillon Gabriel on the depth chart. That doesn't mean he isn't taking every opportunity to learn from the veteran Flacco, however. "In the QB rooms, talking to Flacco, wanting to learn, and also, let's not forget, Dillon Gabriel, spent a lot of time talking about Shedeur, but Dillon Gabriel's a guy who was drafted in the third," Martin said. "One source said to me, he is everything you want in a quarterback, he's just small. If he were a little taller, a lot of people would be looking at Dillon Gabriel a little differently, at least that's how they feel in their building. So they have a very interesting quarterback situation, and Shedeur has a path." Gabriel, who was selected two rounds earlier than Sanders, illustrates the problem for the Colorado prospect. As ESPN's Peter Schrager pointed out during the segment, Sanders likely won't have the same amount of reps in practice as the other quarterbacks on the roster. With less room for error, it presents a challenge for the rookie. Regardless, he is still expected to be on the roster, barring something unforeseen. "The sense I get in that building is something catastrophic, crazy would have to happen for Shedeur not be on the roster," Martin said. "They believe in the talent." Now it's on Sanders to run through the finish line and secure the starting job.
USA Today
21 minutes ago
- USA Today
Look: Andrew Whitworth gave tips to Rams' linemen while visiting OTAs
Look: Andrew Whitworth gave tips to Rams' linemen while visiting OTAs Familiar face at OTAs today. 👀 — Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) June 3, 2025 Andrew Whitworth is loving retired life, spending his football seasons as an analyst for Amazon after 16 years in the NFL. His new job allows him to stay close to the game, as does his proximity to the Los Angeles Rams' facility in Woodland Hills. Not only does Whitworth work out with Sean McVay in the offseason, but he also visits Rams practice every now and then. He was at the team's facility on Tuesday for Week 2 of OTAs, stopping by Rams practice to see how the team looks. While in attendance, Whitworth also helped some of Los Angeles' linemen on the field. The Rams shared a video of Whitworth coaching up rookie lineman Trey Wedig and second-year pro KT Leveston. He also chatted with Kevin Dotson for a little bit. Whitworth posted on X Wednesday following his visit to Rams OTAs, saying it "felt good" to be back on the field with the guys. "The standard is being built every rep," he wrote. Felt good to be back out there with the fellas at Rams OTAs. There's something about being on that field—seeing the work, the bond, the grind—that hits different. Reminds you why you fell in love with this game in the first place. 'Chasing something bigger than all of us—while… — Andrew Whitworth (@AndrewWhitworth) June 4, 2025 Whitworth is a great person to have around the facility, being a four-time Pro Bowler and Walter Payton Man of the Year. His connection with the team and McVay remain strong, even three years after retiring from the NFL.
Newsweek
25 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Eagles' Saquon Barkley Makes Statement on Early Retirement
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. After being crowned the NFL's Offensive Player of the Year in 2024, it feels like Saquon Barkley is just getting started. The Philadelphia Eagles running back's tenure with his second franchise started off on the best foot possible. While that might be the case, Barkley also suggests he might not be that far off from leaving. That's not to say the 28-year-old is ready to jet out of Philly just yet. After all, he just signed a contract extension with the team after winning his first Super Bowl back in February. But early retirement is at the back of his mind heading into his second season with the Eagles. Make no mistake about it, Barkley's recent statement on the potential of retiring early didn't come unprompted. In a recent sit-down with former Eagles pass-rusher Chris Long, Barkley was asked about how far he might take his career. "Do you imagine yourself as one of these guys that wants to do it until the wheels fall off?" Chris Long asked. Saquon Barkley was asked about retirement. His answer might surprise you: "I'll probably be one of those guys that it would be out of nowhere. "I'll probably just wake up one day, whether it's next year or two years or four years and just be like, 'yeah, it's over.'" (via… — Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) June 4, 2025 "I'm probably one of those guys that it would be out of nowhere," Barkley fired back. "I'll probably just wake up one day, whether it's next year or two years, or four years, and just be like, 'Yeah, it's over.' I don't think I will ever lose that passion. The competitive nature is always going to be there. My favorite player of all time is probably Barry Sanders, so it's probably similar to that. Maybe one day it'll probably be out of nowhere. I'll probably be balling and be like, 'Yeah, call it quits.'" On a bright note, that day has not come for Barkley. The Eagles' star rusher will be back in midnight green for his second season, looking to build off of a historic first season in Philadelphia for the 2025 NFL season. In 16 games, Barkley rushed for over 2,000 yards. It was the first time in his career that he broke through that mark. He accounted for a career-high 13 rushing touchdowns and caught two receiving touchdowns to finish with 15 total on the year. Saquon Barkley #26 of the Philadelphia Eagles reacts to his touchdown against the Washington Commanders during the fourth quarter in the NFC Championship Game at Lincoln Financial Field on January 26, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.... Saquon Barkley #26 of the Philadelphia Eagles reacts to his touchdown against the Washington Commanders during the fourth quarter in the NFC Championship Game at Lincoln Financial Field on January 26, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The victory celebrations were marred by chaos, including a stabbing and a car hitting a crowd of pedestrians. MoreIn the playoffs, Barkley rushed for nearly 500 yards, and scored five touchdowns during the Eagles' impressive Super Bowl run. Although the Eagles had Barkley signed to a multi-season contract after acquiring him in 2024 free agency, Barkley signed a two-year, $41 million contract extension as soon as the Super Bowl run concluded. Based on Barkley's thinking, the Eagles might start to feel a sense of panic when they wrap up the 2025 NFL season. For the time being, they can rest easy knowing that Barkley has maintained his competitive fire and plans to put it to good use next year.
