The Dallas Cowboys public relations staff, lauded for overall professionalism with the reporters who cover the franchise, has been selected as the 2026 Pete Rozelle Award winner by the Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA).
The Cowboys PR staff, the 37th Rozelle Award winner, earned the award for the first time in franchise history.
The other 2026 finalists for the Rozelle Award were the Minnesota Vikings and the Seattle Seahawks.
The Rozelle Award is given to the NFL club public relations staff that consistently strives for excellence in its dealings and relationships with the media. The award is named for Rozelle, NFL commissioner from 1960-89, who started his distinguished career in sports PR roles as a student at both Compton (Calif.) Junior College and the University of San Francisco. After two more years as USF’s assistant athletic director after graduation, he broke into the NFL as the PR director of the Los Angeles Rams from 1952-55. Rozelle used his PR principles as commissioner to build relationships with the media during a period of unprecedented growth and challenge for the league.
During the 2025 season, the Cowboys’ football communications staff was comprised of Tad Carper (senior vice president of communications), Scott Agulnek (director of football communications), David Abbruzese (public relations manager), Bronte Hermesmeyer (public relations coordinator), Whitney Faulkner (public and community relations program manager), and Kalie Smith (football communications seasonal intern).
A finalist for the Rozelle Award for the third time in the last four years (2023, 2024 and 2026), the Cowboys’ PR team worked to facilitate access during the 2025 season for beat writers to head coach Brian Schottenheimer, assistant coaches and players along with owner/president/general manager Jerry Jones and front office personnel throughout the season.
“The Cowboys PR staff does a wonderful job managing all the different facets of the beat from local writers, national writers and the television folks. This past year was particularly difficult when defensive end Marshawn Kneeland passed away. The PR staff understood the jobs of the media while also respecting the privacy of the family and the players,” said Dallas PFWA chapter vice president and former PFWA president Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News. “No PR department is perfect, but I’ve always enjoyed working with the Cowboys’ staff because they take the job seriously and do it in a professional and graceful manner to help everyone get the job done.”
PETE ROZELLE AWARD WINNERS (To the club public relations department that consistently strives for excellence in its dealings and relationships with the media) Year indicates when award was presented for previous season: 1990 – Denver Broncos; 1991 – Pittsburgh Steelers; 1992 – Seattle Seahawks; 1993 – Miami Dolphins; 1994 – Houston Oilers; 1995 – New York Giants; 1996 – Indianapolis Colts; 1997 – St. Louis Rams; 1998 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers; 1999 – Miami Dolphins; 2000 – Tennessee Titans; 2001 – New York Giants; 2002 – Philadelphia Eagles; 2003 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers; 2004 – Houston Texans; 2005 – Philadelphia Eagles; 2006 – Cincinnati Bengals; 2007 – Houston Texans; 2008 – Seattle Seahawks; 2009 – Arizona Cardinals; 2010 – Houston Texans; 2011 – Baltimore Ravens; 2012 – Houston Texans; 2013 – Baltimore Ravens; 2014 – Denver Broncos; 2015 – Pittsburgh Steelers; 2016 – Denver Broncos; 2017 – Baltimore Ravens & Houston Texans; 2018 – Minnesota Vikings; 2019 – Los Angeles Rams; 2020 – Indianapolis Colts; 2021 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers; 2022 – New England Patriots; 2023 – Detroit Lions; 2024 – San Francisco 49ers; 2025 – Washington Commanders; 2026 – Dallas Cowboys