Steelers Now
Former Pittsburgh 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.
Norwig was a beloved member in the Steelers organization. Current and past players recognized his achievement on social media when the news was released that he’ll be honored by the PFHOF. Brett Keisel, Alan Faneca, George Pickens and T.J. Watt were some of the players who made a post.
“It’s pretty hard to sum it up in just a few words what John has meant to us for 32 years,” Steelers president Art Rooney II said at the time of Norwig’s retirement in 2023. “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.”
Wiiiiig! Congratulations! https://t.co/NfVg8ppr62
— Brett Keisel (@bkeisel99) February 14, 2025
Norwig, who’s a Penn State graduate, was inducted into the Pennsylvania Athletic Trainers Hall of Fame in 2015. He also 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.
The Hall of Fame established the Awards of Excellence in 2022 in order to recognize the accomplishments of those that performed in behind-the-scenes roles for NFL teams, including equipment managers, athletic trainers, assistant coaches, public relations staff and film staff. 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 honored in the first group of awardees in 2022. Tom Moore, who was the Steelers wide receivers coach and offensive coordinator from 1977-89 was awarded in 2023. Former video director Bob McCartney and assistant coach Lionel Taylor were part of the 2024 class.
