Barry Wilner, a veteran journalist who spent more than three decades with The Associated Press, has been named the 2026 Bill Nunn Memorial Award winner by the Professional Football Writers of America. The honor celebrates his extensive coverage of the NFL, which includes reporting on 35 Super Bowls, 13 Olympic Games and nine World Cups, as well as authoring 75 books and teaching sports communication.
Wilner’s career with the AP began in 1985 and ran until 2022, during which he also served on the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Selection Committee starting in 2014. His reporting has spanned multiple sports, covering everything from the NFL to the Stanley Cup Final.
The award will be presented at the Enshrinees’ Gold Jacket Dinner on August 7, an event that brings together Hall of Fame inductees, journalists and football enthusiasts for an evening of recognition.
Wilner becomes the third AP reporter to receive the Nunn Award, joining the ranks of Jack Hand and Dave Goldberg, both of whom were earlier AP winners of the distinction.
Nicki Jhabvala, president of the PFWA, praised Wilner’s “exemplary work on the NFL beat,” noting that his contributions have helped shape how football is covered for generations of readers.
The Legacy of Bill Nunn
Bill Nunn, a pioneering journalist for the Pittsburgh Courier, broke new ground as a scout for the Pittsburgh Steelers and left a lasting imprint on how talent was evaluated in professional football.