Former Steelers head athletic trainer John Norwig will be honored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame as part of the 2025 'Awards of Excellence.'
Norwig retired in 2023 after 32 years with the Steelers, a career that began in 1991 and included being a part of two Super Bowl Championship teams.
"It's pretty hard to sum it up in just a few words what John has meant to us for 32 years," said Steelers president Art Rooney II at the time of Norwig's retirement. "He's been a consummate professional. And just on a personal level, he's had relationships with so many people. He handled himself the way you would hope everyone on the staff conducts himself. He's as good as it gets in terms of somebody that comes and stays for 32 years and provides us with that level of professionalism. I think our medical staff has been the best in the NFL for a long time, and he's part of the reason for that for sure. We're going to miss him."
Norwig, who was inducted into the Pennsylvania Athletic Trainers Hall of Fame in 2015, also won the Fain-Cain Memorial Award in 2015, one of the highest honors in the profession. It is presented annually by the NFL Physicians Society to the Professional Football Athletic Trainers Society member who best reflects the virtues of a certified athletic trainer and displays the highest level of professionalism.
Norwig was the president of the Professional Football Athletic Trainers Society (PFATS) from 2008-14 and was also named the National Athletic Trainers' Association's Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award in 2008.
Norwig, who graduated from Penn State and earned his Master's Degree in Health Education from the school, spent time working at the university but was with Vanderbilt when he got a call from the Steelers. The rest is history as he accepted the position in Pittsburgh and went on to have a Hall of Fame career.
This is the fourth year for the Awards of Excellence, which started in 2022 to honor those in five categories who contribute to the success of the team. They include assistant coaches, athletic trainers, film/video directors, equipment managers and public relations personnel. Former Steelers running backs coach Dick Hoak will be honored this year along with Norwig.
Former Steelers public relations director Joe Gordon and equipment manager Tony Parisi were part of the initial group honored with the "Awards of Excellence" in 2022, while former assistant coach Tom Moore was part of the 2023 group. Former video director Bob McCartney and assistant coach Lionel Taylor were part of the 2024 class.
The names of the winners of the "Awards of Excellence" will be placed on display inside a designated area of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Museum in Canton. Award recipients will be invited to the 2025 Enshrinement Week and will be recognized in Canton this August.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.
