AP's Dave Goldberg wins writers' McCann Award

Dave Goldberg, who covered the NFL for The Associated Press for 25 years, has posthumously been given the Dick McCann Award by the Pro Football Writers of America for his distinguished work.

Goldberg, who spent 41 years at the AP and passed away on Feb. 8 from complications following hip surgery, was the wire service's lead pro football writer from 1984-2009. Well known to three NFL commissioners - Pete Rozelle, Paul Tagliabue and Roger Goodell - his background as a political reporter was put to good use during two player strikes and the USFL-NFL trial. Goldberg also was a longtime member of the selection committee for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Goodell remarked after Goldberg's death, ''The NFL community has lost a good friend and highly respected professional. Dave's integrity, passion, and sense of fairness enabled him to maintain excellent working relationships with team owners, coaches, players, and commissioners. He was a real pro who served NFL fans exceptionally well with his coverage of the league for many years.''

Goldberg will be honored during the 2015 Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement on Aug. 8 in Canton, Ohio.

A former football and baseball player and graduate of Williams College, Goldberg did graduate study at Stanford. He joined the AP in 1968, beginning a rapid rise from state house correspondent in Trenton, New Jersey, to news editor in that state, to assistant bureau chief in Chicago, to the general news desk in New York, where he quickly rose to supervisory positions. He soon was elevated to a features writer, editor and supervisor, frequently handling political stories.

Goldberg joined the AP's sports desk in 1982. Two years later, he was on the NFL beat, and remained one of football's most prominent and prolific writers until his retirement in 2009.

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