Latest news with #ProFootballWritersofAmerica
NBC Sports
2 days ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Kevin O'Connell wins the PFWA's Horrigan Award for his professionalism with the media
Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell is the winner of the 2025 Horrigan Award, the Pro Football Writers of America announced Friday. The Horrigan Award is given to the league or club official for his or her qualities and professional style in helping the pro football writers do their job. O'Connell was recognized for his openness and helpfulness with reporters. He routinely gives one-on-one interviews, meets regularly with beat writers for off-the-record discussions, provides thoughtful explanations for his decisions after games, and he creates an environment where both players and assistant coaches feel free to tell their stories. O'Connell, the 53rd Horrigan Award winner, is the first member of the Vikings franchise to receive the award. He is the first head coach to win the Horrigan since Ron Rivera with the Commanders in 2023. Other 2025 nominees for the Horrigan Award were Rams president Kevin Demoff, 49ers General Manager John Lynch, NFL VP of communications Brian McCarthy and NFL EVP of football operations Troy Vincent. Jack Horrigan was a sportswriter for UPI and the Buffalo Evening News, public relations director for the American Football League (1963-66) and vice president of public relations for the Buffalo Bills (1966-73). Joe Horrigan is in his 46th year with the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame's current senior advisor was executive director (2017-19), executive vice president of museums, selection process and chief communications officer (2014-17) and vice president, communications and exhibits (1996-2014).
NBC Sports
3 days ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Browns beat reporter Mary Kay Cabot wins Bill Nunn Award
The Pro Football Writers of America has named Mary Kay Cabot the winner of the 2025 Bill Nunn Jr. Award. Cabot , who writes about the Browns for the Cleveland Plain Dealer and has covered the NFL since 1988. She becomes the 57th Nunn Award honoree and the second journalist who primarily worked at the Cleveland Plain Dealer to win the award, joining Chuck Heaton (1980). Cabot was a four-time finalist for the Nunn Award (2022-25), and she is the second woman to be a Nunn honoree (Pro Football Talk's Charean Williams, 2018). The Nunn Award is given to a reporter who has made a long and distinguished contribution to pro football through coverage. The award is named for Nunn, who prior to his Hall of Fame scouting career with the Steelers, worked for 22 years at the Pittsburgh Courier, one of the most influential Black publications in the United States. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021 as a contributor. Other 2025 finalists for the Nunn Award were Clarence Hill Jr. ( Mike Silver (The Athletic), and Barry Wilner (Associated Press). Cabot is a longtime member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame selection committee and is one of four women currently serving as a selector. She is also president of the Cleveland chapter of the Pro Football Writers of America. She will be honored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, at the Enshrinees' Gold Jacket Dinner on Friday, Aug. 1.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Joe Burrow wins PFWA's George Halas Award
The Pro Football Writers of America announced Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow as the winner of the 2025 George Halas Award. The award is given annually to an NFL player, coach or staff member who overcomes the most adversity to succeed. Burrow injured his wrist in 2023, missing the final seven games after undergoing surgery. Advertisement He returned in time to start the 2024 season and led the NFL in passing attempts (652), completions (460), passing yards (4,918) and touchdown passes (43). Burrow earned comeback player of the year. The Halas Award is name for George Halas, a charter member (1963) of the Pro Football Hall of Fame who was associated with the Bears and NFL from their inception in 1920 until his death in 1983 as an owner, manager, player and promoter. Halas won 324 games and six NFL titles in 40 seasons as a coach. Burrow, the 57th Halas Award winner, is the third member of the Bengals franchise to receive the honor from the PFWA. Tim Krumrie (1990) and Mike Zimmer (2010) were Bengals who previously won the award. Other 2025 finalists for the Halas Award were Browns running back Nick Chubb, Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold and Chargers running back J.K. Dobbins.
NBC Sports
5 days ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Joe Burrow wins PFWA's George Halas Award
The Pro Football Writers of America announced Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow as the winner of the 2025 George Halas Award. The award is given annually to an NFL player, coach or staff member who overcomes the most adversity to succeed. Burrow injured his wrist in 2023, missing the final seven games after undergoing surgery. He returned in time to start the 2024 season and led the NFL in passing attempts (652), completions (460), passing yards (4,918) and touchdown passes (43). Burrow earned comeback player of the year. The Halas Award is name for George Halas, a charter member (1963) of the Pro Football Hall of Fame who was associated with the Bears and NFL from their inception in 1920 until his death in 1983 as an owner, manager, player and promoter. Halas won 324 games and six NFL titles in 40 seasons as a coach. Burrow, the 57th Halas Award winner, is the third member of the Bengals franchise to receive the honor from the PFWA. Tim Krumrie (1990) and Mike Zimmer (2010) were Bengals who previously won the award. Other 2025 finalists for the Halas Award were Browns running back Nick Chubb, Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold and Chargers running back J.K. Dobbins.
Forbes
28-03-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
How Stefon Diggs Hopes To Guide Patriots' Young Receiver Room
Stefon Diggs was a spectator throughout September of his first NFL season with the Minnesota Vikings. Only the former No. 146 overall pick didn't look back to the inactives list from October on. A spot on the Pro Football Writers of America's All-Rookie team followed. And over the decade since then, so have four Pro Bowls and two All-Pros. But 2015 is a reference point that can be pulled from to guide the young wide receivers on the New England Patriots' roster. That's where Diggs, at age 31, finds himself now after signing a three-year, $69 million contract that includes a reported $26 million guaranteed. 'It's more so experience from the highs and the lows, I would say, because everybody wants to have success in this league,' Diggs told reporters during his introductory press conference at Gillette Stadium on Friday. 'Everybody wants to play at a very high level, but I feel like I can help more so with the lows just because I've experienced them myself on a personal level. Like, the first three games of my career, I wasn't playing at all. It wasn't until the fourth game that I got my opportunity. And then taking advantage of opportunities and learning that, you know, sometimes the timing is off.' Over the 13 games from there as a rookie in Minnesota, the timing no longer was off. Diggs turned 52 catches into 720 yards and four touchdowns while making nine starts. The Maryland Terrapins product went on to lead the league in receptions and receiving yards by 2020 with the Buffalo Bills. And he was on pace to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark for the seventh consecutive campaign before sustaining a torn ACL last fall with the Houston Texans. The plan is to stay ahead of schedule. 'When it's your time to shine, shine. And if you don't, you can't blame nobody but yourself,' added Diggs. 'But I kind of learned that the hard way. Like, sitting on the bench for three games my rookie season, it was kind of rough for me as far as mentally. Like, damn, I thought I had a good camp. I felt like I did what I could have to have some kind of role, not to say what it was. But to help them with the lows is the biggest thing, because everything isn't going to go your way. "You sometimes got to learn that the hard way. But if you're doing what you're supposed to, you're committed to it, it'll bounce your way. The ball will bounce your way eventually. You just never know when. That's something that I learned when I was younger.' In Foxborough, the 6-foot, 191-pound Diggs slots in atop a wideout depth chart that includes fellow veterans Kendrick Bourne and Mack Hollins. The room also moves forward with past sixth-rounders DeMario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte, past undrafted free agents JaQuae Jackson and John Jiles, as well as unproven investments from the 2024 class. Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker, who landed at No. 37 and No. 110 overall, respectively, last spring, combined for 37 targets as Patriots rookies. Those targets became 13 completions, 99 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The 22-year-old from the Washington Huskies and the 23-year-old from the Central Florida Knights saw 526 offensive snaps altogether. They are now joined in the battle to see the field by Diggs, who stands 144 games into his NFL career and previously served as a captain in the AFC South and AFC East. 'I told myself that when I did get the opportunity to go between the lines, I wasn't going to come off of them, because I'm going to do my job, I'm going to be where I'm supposed to be and I'm going to make plays,' Diggs said. 'It's not all about the Xs and Os, but you got to go out there and make plays, play ball and be a professional. 'I think being a pro's pro, you'll learn a lot, too, and I feel like I've been a pro my whole life, especially when I got in the league. But with the young guys, bringing them along and showing them how to be a professional and how to handle business each and every day, it'll go a long way.'
