Top Photos of NFL Season Revealed in Hall's 53rd Annual Photo Contest

Detroit Lions photographer Jeff Nguyen is the winner of the Dave Boss Award of Excellence for his entry in the 53rd annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Photo Contest. His photo, titled “Pocket Full of Dreams," was selected by a panel of judges as the Photograph of the Year for the 2020 National Football League season.

The image depicts Lions running back Adrian Peterson jumping through a perfectly formed hole in the line of scrimmage against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020 at Ford Field in Detroit.

Nguyen, who is a graduate of Michigan State University, worked four seasons with the Miami Dolphins before joining the Lions in 2020 as their team photographer and assistant creative director.

The Hall of Fame’s prestigious contest is open to professional photographers on assignment to cover NFL games. Photos taken during the 2020 NFL season, including Super Bowl LV, were eligible.

Nguyen’s entry was the first-place winner in the action category. Los Angeles Chargers photographer Mike Nowak was first in the feature category. His photo, “Flow,” features an open-shuttered image of the Chargers entering the field of play to face the New York Jets on Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif.

Judging was conducted at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in April by a panel of prominent photo editors and photographers. The judges included Ben Liebenberg (Director of Photography/Lead Photographer at the NFL), Terrell Lloyd (Team Photographer for the San Francisco 49ers), Brad Smith (Founder & Director, Brad Smith Creative), Paul Spinelli (President of SpinPhotos, Inc.) and Kevin Terrell (Associated Press Contributing Photographer at Large).

Nguyen’s and Nowak’s photos will be placed on display at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in the coming weeks.

PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME 53rd ANNUAL PHOTO CONTEST (2020 SEASON)

List of Winners

Dave Boss Award of Excellence, 2020 (Photo of the Year)

Action Winner – Jeff Nguyen – Detroit Lions
 

ACTION              

First Place – Jeff Nguyen, Detroit Lions, “Pocket Full of Dreams," Indianapolis Colts at Detroit Lions, Nov. 1, 2020.

Second Place – Mike Nowak, Los Angeles Chargers, “Ekeler Diving TD,” Kansas City Chiefs at Los Angeles Chargers, Sept. 20, 2020.

Third Place – Matt Bowen, Indianapolis Colts, “Biggest Fan,” Indianapolis Colts at Detroit Lions, Nov. 1, 2020.

Hon. Mention – Joshua Bessex, The Tacoma News Tribune, “Ankle Breaker,” Dallas Cowboys at Seattle Seahawks, Sept. 27, 2020.

Hon. Mention – Joshua Bessex, The Tacoma News Tribune, “DK Catch Attempt,” Dallas Cowboys at Seattle Seahawks, Sept. 27, 2020.

Hon. Mention – Michael DeMocker, NFL LCC/New Orleans Saints, “Yule Flip,” Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints, Dec. 25, 2020.

Hon. Mention – Dan Powers, Appleton Post-Crescent, “All Eyes on Aaron,” Los Angeles Rams at Green Bay Packers, Jan. 16, 2001.

Hon. Mention – Kevin Sabitus, Freelance Photographer, “Little Giants,” Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Kansas City Chiefs, Super Bowl LV, Feb. 7, 2021.

Hon. Mention – Evan Siegle, Green Bay Packers, “Air Adams,” Tennessee Titans at Green Bay Packers, Dec. 27, 2020.

Hon. Mention – Ric Tapia, National Football League, “Reid THIS,” Baltimore Raven at Houston Texans, Sept. 20, 2020.

Click to View Best Action Shots of 2020 Gallery

FEATURE

First Place – Mike Nowak, Los Angeles Chargers, “Flow,” New York Jets at Los Angeles Chargers, Nov. 22, 2020

Second Place – Bill Wippert, Buffalo Bills, “Diggs' Despair,” Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs, AFC Championship Game, Jan. 24, 2021.

Third Place – Zach Tarrant, Houston Texans, “It's the humidity…,” Houston Texans at Pittsburgh Steelers, Sept. 27, 2020.

Hon. Mention – Ric Kruszynski, Cleveland Browns, “Game Recognize Game,” Washington Football Team at Cleveland Browns, Sept. 27, 2020.

Hon. Mention – Kam Nedd, Minnesota Vikings, “The Bigger Picture,” Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears, Nov. 16, 2020.

Hon. Mention – Jose M. Osorio, Chicago Tribune, “No One Catches the Ball,” Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions, Sept. 13, 2020.

Hon. Mention – Evan Seigle, Green Bay Packers, “In the Spotlight,” Tennessee Titans at Green Bay Packers, Dec. 27, 2020.

Hon. Mention – Scott Strazzante, San Francisco Chronicle, “Standing Guard,” Miami Dolphins at San Francisco 49ers, Oct. 11, 2020.

Hon. Mention – Zach Tarrant, Houston Texans, “Focus,” Houston Texans at Jacksonville Jaguars, Nov. 8, 2020.

Hon. Mention – Zach Tarrant, Houston Texans, “Pregame Huddle,” Green Bay Packers at Houston Texans, Oct. 25, 2020.

Click to View Best Feature Shots of 2020 Gallery