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Jim McNally to Receive Award of Excellence from Pro Football Hall of Fame
12/24/2024 12:54:00 PM | Football
In recognition of a stellar coaching career, University at Buffalo alumnus and former assistant coach Jim McNally will receive the Award of Excellence from the Pro Football Hall of Fame. McNally is one of three assistant coaches selected as part of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's annual Awards of Excellence program.
McNally is a 1966 graduate of UB and began his career as an assistant coach with the Bulls from 1966-70. He also served as an assistant coach at Marshall, where he helped rebuild the team after the tragic plane crash in 1970, as well as Boston College and Wake Forest.
McNally spent 43 seasons in the NFL and is credited with forging dominant offensive line units with multiple organizations. He entered the NFL with the Bengals in 1980. He stayed there until 1994, reaching two Super Bowls and mentoring future Hall of Famer Anthony Munoz for all 13 of his seasons. Stints with the Carolina Panthers, New York Giants and Buffalo Bills followed until McNally "retired" in 2007. Consultancy with the Saints (two years), Jets (two years) and Bengals (10 years) followed until his second retirement in 2023. Still active in the game, he helps run coaching clinics and camps nationwide.
McNally was inducted into the Dr. and Mrs. Edmond J. Gicewicz UB Athletics Hall of Fame in 1982 and was a 2008 inductee to the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame.
A cocktail dinner and awards luncheon to celebrate the careers of McNally along with fellow award winners Dick Hoak and Elijah Pitts will take place in Canton next June 25-26. The coaches will be joined by Pete Abitante, Jason Jenkins and Bill Keenist, who earlier this month were announced as the Awards of Excellence recipients in the Public Relations Directors category. Still to be announced, on dates to be determined, are electees for Athletic Trainers, Equipment Managers and Film/Video Directors.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame established the Awards of Excellence in 2022 to recognize significant contributors to the game in "behind-the-scenes" roles. In addition to public relations personnel, the program honors career Assistant Coaches plus Athletic Trainers, Equipment Managers and Film/Video Directors.
McNally is a 1966 graduate of UB and began his career as an assistant coach with the Bulls from 1966-70. He also served as an assistant coach at Marshall, where he helped rebuild the team after the tragic plane crash in 1970, as well as Boston College and Wake Forest.
McNally spent 43 seasons in the NFL and is credited with forging dominant offensive line units with multiple organizations. He entered the NFL with the Bengals in 1980. He stayed there until 1994, reaching two Super Bowls and mentoring future Hall of Famer Anthony Munoz for all 13 of his seasons. Stints with the Carolina Panthers, New York Giants and Buffalo Bills followed until McNally "retired" in 2007. Consultancy with the Saints (two years), Jets (two years) and Bengals (10 years) followed until his second retirement in 2023. Still active in the game, he helps run coaching clinics and camps nationwide.
McNally was inducted into the Dr. and Mrs. Edmond J. Gicewicz UB Athletics Hall of Fame in 1982 and was a 2008 inductee to the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame.
A cocktail dinner and awards luncheon to celebrate the careers of McNally along with fellow award winners Dick Hoak and Elijah Pitts will take place in Canton next June 25-26. The coaches will be joined by Pete Abitante, Jason Jenkins and Bill Keenist, who earlier this month were announced as the Awards of Excellence recipients in the Public Relations Directors category. Still to be announced, on dates to be determined, are electees for Athletic Trainers, Equipment Managers and Film/Video Directors.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame established the Awards of Excellence in 2022 to recognize significant contributors to the game in "behind-the-scenes" roles. In addition to public relations personnel, the program honors career Assistant Coaches plus Athletic Trainers, Equipment Managers and Film/Video Directors.
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