The esteemed 2024 PFWA Dr. Z Award has been bestowed upon two prominent NFL assistant coaches: Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and Tennessee Titans offensive line coach Bill Callahan. This prestigious award, named after the legendary Paul Zimmerman, recognizes a lifetime of achievement in the NFL coaching profession.
Zimmerman, known as one of the greatest football writers of all time, penned several seminal works that continue to be essential resources for aspiring football writers. His book “A Thinking Man’s Guide to Pro Football” was published in 1970 and its revised version “The New Thinking Man’s Guide to Pro Football” in 1984. These works are still highly regarded today for their insights into the intricacies of the game and their contribution to improving writing skills. Zimmerman began covering the NFL in 1966, joining Sports Illustrated in 1979 where he remained until his health issues cut short his illustrious writing career in 2008.
Spagnuolo had two stints as the Giants’ defensive coordinator, first from 2007-2008 and then again from 2015-2017. He was a strong candidate for the team’s head coaching position in 2018 but ultimately did not get the job with Pat Shurmur being selected instead. However, Spagnuolo went on to become the defensive coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2019, where he earned three Super Bowl titles, adding to his impressive total of four. This recognition is well-deserved and celebrates Spagnuolo’s significant contributions to both the NFL and coaching profession.
