Pro Football Hall of Fame

35th Annual Photo Contest (2002 NFL Season)

Dave Boss Award of Excellence, 2002 (Photo of the Year)
Action Winner – John Beale, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"Facemask"

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette photographer John Beale is the winner of the Dave Boss Award of Excellence for his entry in the 35th annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Photo Contest. His photo, entitled "Facemask," was deemed Photograph of the Year.

The color action photo depicts Pittsburgh Steelers' receiver Antwaan Randle El sustaining a ferocious tackle in which his helmet is seemingly twisted off. The photo was taken during the Steelers 36-33 AFC Wild Card playoff victory over the Cleveland Browns on January 5, 2003 in Pittsburgh.

The prestigious contest, sponsored by Canon, the official camera of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, is open to professional photographers ordinarily on assignment to cover National Football League games. Photos taken during the 2002 season, which included Super Bowl XXXVII and the Pro Bowl were eligible.

Beale's entry was the first place winner in the action category. The first place winner in the feature category was Benny Sieu of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Sieu's image, titled "Take That," shows Green Bay Packers guard Marco Rivera and Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive lineman Ellis Wyms engaged in hand-to-face contact during the Bucs 21-7 victory over Green Bay on November 24th in Tampa.

Beale will be officially honored at the Enshrinee Dinner, part of the Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement celebration, on August 2, 2003 in front of a sellout crowd of 4,000 people. The multi-day celebration is highlighted by the induction of the Class of 2003 - Marcus Allen, Elvin Bethea, Joe DeLamielleure, James Lofton, and Hank Stram - on August 3, followed by the AFC-NFC Hall of Fame Game the next day. This year's game showcases a rematch of the Super Bowl I participants, the Kansas City Chiefs and Green Bay Packers.

Annual Photo Contest

Action Photo Gallery  |Feature Photo Gallery