The Art McNally Award is an annual award created in 2002 by then–National Football League

National Football League

The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...

 (NFL) Commissioner Paul Tagliabue

Paul Tagliabue

Paul John Tagliabue is a former Commissioner of the National Football League. He took the position in 1989 and was succeeded by Roger Goodell, who was elected to the position on August 8, 2006. Tagliabue's retirement took effect on September 1, 2006. He had previously served as a lawyer for the NFL...

 and given to an NFL game official

Official (American football)

In American football, an official is a person who has responsibility in enforcing the rules and maintaining the order of the game.During professional and college football games, seven officials operate on the field...

 who exhibits exemplary professionalism, leadership, and commitment to sportsmanship on and off the field. This award is presented at the Pro Bowl

Pro Bowl

In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...

 in Hawaii

Hawaii

Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...

.

The award is named after Art McNally

Art McNally

Art McNally is a former Director of Officiating for the National Football League from 1968 to 1990. Before becoming Director of Officiating, McNally served as a field judge and referee in the NFL for nine years from 1959 to 1967...

, an NFL game official from 1959 to 1967 and Supervisor of Officials from 1968 to 1990. Since 1996, he has served as an assistant supervisor of officials in the NFL during the season. Tagliabue said of McNally, "Art McNally truly represented the qualities that are inscribed on the award. His dedication to the game and his professionalism and class on and off the field set the standard." http://www.nfl.com/news/story/5335085

Previous winners

{| class="wikitable"
!bgcolor="#e5e5e5"| Year !! bgcolor="#e5e5e5"| Official || Position
|-
|2002 || Bob McElwee

Bob McElwee

Robert T. "Bob" McElwee is a former American football official, who served for 41 years, with 27 of those years in the National Football League from 1976 to 2003...

 http://www.nfl.com/news/story/5335085 || Referee
|-
|2003 || Ben Montgomery http://www.nfl.com/news/story/6552345 || Line Judge
|-
|2004 || Tom Fincken || Side Judge
|-
|2005 || Gerald Austin

Gerald Austin

Dr. Gerald "Gerry" Austin is a retired American football official, who worked in the National Football League from the 1982 season through the 2007 season. He wore uniform number 34, which is now worn by Clete Blakeman. Austin has officiated in three Super Bowls, one as a side judge and two as a...

 http://www.footballofficialscamp.com/staffbios/austin_gerald.htm || Referee
|-
|2006 || Larry Nemmers || Referee
|-
|2007 || Bill Lovett || Field Judge
|-
|2008 || Bill Carollo || Referee
|-
|2009 || Bill Schmitz || Back Judge
|-
|2010 || Bob Lawing || Back Judge
|-
|2011 || Ron Baynes || Line Judge
|-