Top Photos of NFL Season Revealed in Hall's 50th Annual Photo Contest

Getty Images staff photographer Rob Carr is the winner of the Dave Boss Award of Excellence for his entry in the 50th Annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Photo Contest. His photo titled “Eagle Eye," was selected by a panel of judges as the Photograph of the Year for the 2017 National Football League Season.

The image captured Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles’ loving gaze into the eyes of his daughter Lily after his MVP performance in the Eagles’ 41-33 victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minn. on Feb. 4, 2018.

Carr, a graduate of Eastern Kentucky University, began his career in the late-1980s working for a small daily newspaper in Frankfort, Ky. He then worked for the Associated Press in Alabama and Baltimore where he covered both news and sports before joining Getty Images in 2011.

The Hall of Fame’s prestigious contest is open to professional photographers on assignment to cover NFL games. Photos taken during the 2017 NFL season, that included Super Bowl LII and the 2018 Pro Bowl, were eligible.

Carr’s entry was the first-place winner in the feature category while NFL photographer Logan Bowles was first in the Action category. His photo “Take Off for Six” shows Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones diving in midair toward an end zone pylon for a touchdown during the Falcons game vs. the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Nov. 26, 2017.

Judging was conducted at the Pro Football Hall of Fame by a panel of prominent photo editors and photographers. The judges included John Reid, III (Team Photographer for the Cleveland Browns), Ben Liebenberg (Director of Photography/Lead Photographer at the NFL), Micky Palmer (veteran photographer who has worked every Super Bowl to date), Terrell Lloyd (Team Photographer for the San Francisco 49ers) and Tony Tomsic, (veteran photographer who has covered pro football for more than 50 years).

Carr will be officially honored at the Enshrinees Roundtable, part of the 2018 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Week Powered by Johnson Controls. The enshrinement of the Class of 2018 – Bobby Beathard, Robert Brazile, Brian Dawkins, Jerry Kramer, Ray Lewis, Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, and Brian Urlacher – will take place on Saturday, Aug. 4. The Enshrinees Roundtable is held on Sunday, Aug. 5.

List of Winners

Dave Boss Award of Excellence, 2017 (Photo of the Year)

Feature Winner – Rob Carr – Getty Images

Feature (view photo gallery)         

First Place –        Rob Carr – Getty Images, “Eagle Eye," New England Patriots vs. Philadelphia Eagles, Feb. 4, 2018, Super Bowl LII.

Second Place –   Joshua Bessex – The Tacoma News Tribune, “Bennett Celebration,” Houston Texans at Seattle Seahawks, Oct. 29, 2017.

Third Place –      Craig Melvin – Craig Melvin Photography/Buffalo Bills, “Lead the Charge”,” Indianapolis Colts at Buffalo Bills, Dec. 10, 2017.

Hon. Mention –   Jacob Funk, Chicago Bears, “Adrian Amos,” Cleveland Browns at Chicago Bears, Dec. 24, 2017.

Hon. Mention –   Ronald Martinez, Getty Images, “Matthew's Mist,” Green Bay Packers at Dallas Cowboys, Oct. 8, 2017.

Hon. Mention –   AJ Mast – Associated Press, The Dallas Morning News, “#18”, San Francisco 49ers at Indianapolis Colts, Oct. 8, 2017.

Hon. Mention –   Mykal McEldowney, The Indianapolis Star, “Joe Thomas is Hot,” Cleveland Browns at Indianapolis Colts, Sept. 24, 2017.

Hon. Mention –   Mike McCarn, Associated Press, “Hot Introduction,” Minnesota Vikings at Carolina Panthers, Dec. 10, 2017.

Hon. Mention –   Steve Sanders, Kansas City Chiefs, “Brotherly Love,” Philadelphia Eagles at Kansas City Chiefs, Sept. 17, 2017.

Hon. Mention –   Patrick Smith, Getty Images, “Underdogs,” Minnesota Vikings at Philadelphia Eagles, Jan. 21, 2018.

 

Action (view photo gallery)     

First Place –        Logan Bowles, National Football League, “Take Off for Six,” Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons, Nov. 26, 2017

Second Place –    Ric Tapia, National Football League, “Field Goal Light,” Buffalo Bills at Los Angeles Chargers, Nov. 19, 2017.

Third Place –       AJ Mast, New York Times, “Super Bowl TD,” New England Patriots vs. Philadelphia Eagles, Feb. 4, 2018, Super Bowl LII.

Hon. Mention –   Kara Durrette, Atlanta Falcons, “Tailwind,” New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons, Dec. 10, 2017.

Hon. Mention –   Wesley Hitt, Free Lance, “Kicking Leaping #29,” Oakland Raiders at Tennessee Titans, Sept. 10, 2017.

Hon. Mention –   Harry How, Getty Images, “Anything for the Ball,” Denver Broncos at Los Angeles Chargers, Oct. 22, 2017.

Hon. Mention –   Jeremiah Jass, Dallas Cowboys, “Caught Red Handed,” New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys, Sept. 10, 2017.

Hon. Mention –   Michael DeMocker, The Times-Picayune, “Spider-Cam,” Detroit Lions at New Orleans Saints, Oct. 15, 2017.

Hon. Mention –   John Sleezer, The Kansas City Star, “Short by a knee,” Miami Dolphins at Kansas City Chiefs, Dec. 24, 2017.

Hon. Mention –   Paul Spinelli, AP Images, “Airborne Bolt,” Los Angeles Chargers at Oakland Raiders, Oct. 15, 2017.

Hon. Mention –   Paul Spinelli, AP Images, “Diving Winner,” New England Patriots vs. Philadelphia Eagles, Feb. 4, 2018, Super Bowl LII.