Brian McCarthy, the NFL’s Vice President of Communications and chief spokesperson, has been selected as the 2026 Horrigan Award winner by the Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA), according to an announcement from the organization on Friday.
The prestigious honor was confirmed by ESPN's Adam Schefter, who congratulated McCarthy (known on X as @NFLprguy) for his "great work over an extended period." The Horrigan Award is presented annually to a league or club official for their professional style and qualities in helping pro football writers perform their jobs.
McCarthy is the 54th recipient of the award and becomes the seventh member of the NFL’s league communications office to earn the distinction. He follows in the footsteps of past league office winners such as Michael Signora, Randall Liu, and Joe Browne. McCarthy emerged as the winner from a group of finalists that included San Francisco 49ers General Manager John Lynch and NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations Troy Vincent.
A veteran of the league office since 1994, Brian McCarthy has served as the NFL's chief spokesperson since 2022. In his role, he facilitates national and local media requests while serving as the primary point of contact for league policies, stadium issues, and off-field matters. The PFWA lauded his career-long commitment to transparency and media accessibility.
The award was renamed the Horrigan Award in 2022 to honor the contributions of both Jack and Joe Horrigan to the field of professional football communications.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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