PFATS Announces 2025 Hall of Fame Inductees

FEBRUARY 7, 2025. The Professional Football Athletic Trainers Society (PFATS) is honored to announce the Class of 2025 for the PFATS Hall of Fame. These inductees represent the pinnacle of dedication and service to the athletic training profession, enshrining their legacies as Hall of Famers.

The 2025 PFATS Hall of Fame class is composed of Ed Block, John Norwig, and Pepper Burruss. Together, these former PFATS members have devoted over a century to professional athletic training in the National Football League (NFL).

“This year’s inductees exemplify what it means to be a Professional Football Athletic Trainer,” said Bryan Engel, PFATS President. “Their commitment to advancing healthcare for athletes, their innovative contributions to the profession, and their selfless service to their teams and communities have left an indelible mark. We are proud to recognize these legends and welcome them to the PFATS Hall of Fame.”

Ed Block

Ed Block was the Head Athletic Trainer for the Baltimore Colts from 1954 to 1977 and a Purple Heart recipient from World War II. Known for his dedication to player care and humanitarian efforts, he established a legacy through the Ed Block Courage Award Foundation. Block was inducted into the National Athletic Trainers’ Association Hall of Fame in 1974.

Pepper Burruss

Pepper Burruss spent 42 years in the NFL, including 26 seasons as Head Athletic Trainer for the Green Bay Packers. Renowned for his contributions to sports medicine, Burruss helped the Packers win two Super Bowl championships and earned the Fain-Cain Memorial Award in 2012.

John Norwig

John Norwig served as Head Athletic Trainer for the Pittsburgh Steelers for 32 years, earning numerous accolades, including the Fain–Cain Memorial Award and the National Athletic Trainers’ Association’s Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award. A former PFATS President, Norwig made history by hiring the NFL’s first full-time female athletic trainer in 2002.

In addition to the PFATS Hall of Fame, these three former PFATS members will be honored at the Professional Football Hall of Fame in Canton, OH as recipients of the Award of Excellence in June 2025.

“It’s a great honor that we are able to recognize some of the pioneers in athletic training who have paved the way for us in the NFL,” commented Justin Maher, Assistant Athletic Trainer/Physical Therapist with the New York Giants and PFATS Hall of Fame Committee Chair. “These gentlemen have truly embodied what it means to be a Professional Football Athletic Trainer by carrying out our society’s slogan – ‘PFATS cares to make a difference.’ We are excited to honor new recipients every year with hopes to someday induct one of our deserving brothers or sisters into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, OH.”

For more information about PFATS, please visit us at http://www.pfats.com.

About PFATS
The Professional Football Athletic Trainers Society (PFATS) represents the athletic trainers of the National Football League. PFATS serves the players of the NFL, the member clubs, and other members of the athletic training community. PFATS’ purpose is to ensure the highest quality of health care is provided to the athletes of the National Football League. PFATS is dedicated to the welfare of its members and committed to the promotion and advancement of athletic training through education and research. The society is founded on the professional integrity and the ethical standards of its members and the fellowship that exists among members. For more information, please see www.pfats.com

For more information, please contact Leslie Weir, admin@pfats.com

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