3 former NFL Film/Video Directors selected to receive ‘Awards of Excellence’

Honorees in five ‘behind-the-scenes’ job categories to be recognized June 25-26 at Hall of Fame in Canton

All five groups that select honorees as part of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s annual Awards of Excellence program have made their Class of 2025 selections, with the Film/Video Directors announcing their three newest recipients Tuesday. 

Larry Clerico, Jon Dubé and David Hack comprise the third group honored in this category, which was added one year after the Awards of Excellence recognition program debuted in 2022. Their selection brings to 11 the number of former Flim/Video Directors recognized.

A cocktail reception and the awards luncheon to celebrate the careers of Clerico, Dubé, Hack and the other categories’ honorees will take place June 25-26 in Canton.

Clerico spent 28 seasons (1992-2019) with the Rams, first in Los Angeles as assistant video director, then ascending to video director with the team’s move to St. Louis in 1995. He succeeded Milan “Mickey” Dukich, who was honored in the inaugural class of Film/Video Directors in 2023 and represented Dukich at that ceremony. During his tenure, Clerico led the club through several technological advances, including the transition to the digital format. Prior to moving into pro football, Clerico worked as film manager for UCLA’s athletics department from 1984-1990. He received the Billy Driber Award for leadership from the league in 2019.

Dubé spent 41 years (1983-2023) with the Baltimore Ravens (28 seasons) and the team’s predecessor, the Cleveland Browns (13 seasons), leading the franchise’s video transition into new facilities and the digital age. He was a member of the NFL Video Directors Committee for 13 years (2011-23) and played a pivotal role in implementing league-wide gameday technology and video rules and regulations. In 2017, he became the first active video director to receive the Collegiate Sports Video Association’s NFL Hall of Fame Award. The Ravens renamed their football video operations suite in Dube’s honor in 2024. 

Hack worked 35 seasons (1974-2008) in the Dolphins’ video department — 24 as director after 11 as an assistant. In addition to capturing all practices and games for the Dolphins, he worked numerous college bowl and all-star games, including the Orange Bowl, CarQuest Bowl and Senior Bowl. The longest-tenured employee of the franchise at the time of his retirement, Hack also holds the distinction as only person besides DAN MARINO(Opens in a new window) to attend all of the quarterback’s 260 combined regular-season and playoff games and see each of his 452 career touchdown passes, a point the Hall of Famer emphasized at his own retirement news conference. After retiring from the Dolphins, Hack spent five years working in the replay booth with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
 

About the Awards of Excellence

The Pro Football Hall of Fame established the Awards of Excellence in 2022 to recognize significant contributors to the game in “behind-the-scenes” job roles. The program honors career Assistant Coaches, Athletic Trainers, Equipment Managers, Film/Video Directors and Public Relations Directors. 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. 

Also at the awards luncheon, the Pro Football Hall of Fame will honor the winner of its annual photo contest. Photographs taken during the 2024 National Football League season in the “Action” and “Feature” categories and entered in the contest are eligible for awards. A panel of professional photographers will judge the entries and pick first-, second- and third-place finishers in each category. 

The Photograph of the Year — chosen from the first-place winners in the Action and Feature categories — will be deemed winner of the 57th annual Dave Boss Award of Excellence. That photographer will be invited to Canton for the June 25-26 program, and his/her image will be placed on display in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Awards of Excellence honorees in the Class of 2025 and their primary NFL team(s) are:

• Assistant Coaches – Dick Hoak (Steelers), Elijah Pitts (Rams and Bills) and Jim McNally (Bengals).(Opens in a new window)
• Athletic Trainers – Ed Block (Colts), Pepper Burruss (Jets and Packers) and John Norwig (Steelers).(Opens in a new window)
• Equipment Managers – Tom Gray (Bengals), Dennis Ryan (Vikings) and George Luongo (Patriots).(Opens in a new window)
• Film/Video Directors – Larry Clerico (Rams), Jon Dubé (Ravens and Browns) and David Hack (Dolphins).(Opens in a new window)
• Public Relations Directors – Pete Abitante (NFL Office), Jason Jenkins (Dolphins) and Bill Keenist (Lions).(Opens in a new window)

 

Tickets

Tickets for the Awards of Excellence can be purchased here.(Opens in a new window)