Bennett High School head football coach Steve McDuffie is one of 32 finalists for the Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year Award. Coach McDuffie is the Buffalo Bills nominee after being named the team’s Coach of the Year. He was also the Week 6 Buffalo Region Coach of the Week this year.
In December, McDuffie led the school to its first state championship with a 42-8 win over Newburgh Free Academy in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association’s Class AA final. McDuffie is the first black head coach in New York state history to win a state championship.
According to a story on buffalobills.com, “Off the field, McDuffie, Bennett players and staff contribute to the Archie L. Hunter community outreach mentoring program with YMCA Buffalo Niagara each year. The group raises funds with an annual track meet and an annual fundraiser on Martin Luther King Day. The head coach also played a large part in the resurgence of the Westside Little League football program.”
For the first time, the NFL will recognize two winners, one from each conference, AFC & NFC. These two winners will be invited to the Pro Bowl Games in Las Vegas on February 5th and will be recognized in special ways during the NFL’s week-long celebration of football. Throughout the week, coaches will receive VIP access and accommodations to attend the Pro Bowl Games practices for both AFC & NFC teams, on field access at Sunday’s Pro Bowl Games, and a chance to interact and engage with various members of the football community.
The NFL Foundation and Nike have teamed up to provide the two winners a $15,000 award to their high school football programs and a $10,000 cash award. The other 30 club nominees will all receive a $1,000 cash award. They will also attend Super Bowl LVII in Arizona as special guests of the NFL. The Don Shula Award winners will be announced in the week prior to the Pro Bowl Games, the multi-day AFC vs. NFC competition that will culminate in an action-packed flag game featuring Pro Bowl players at Allegiant Stadium, and will air on ESPN and ABC on Sunday, February 5, 2023. The winners will also be recognized and walk the red carpet at the 12th annual NFL Honors, a two-hour primetime awards special to air nationally on February 9 at 9:00 PM ET, (ET and PT) on FOX.
2022 Buffalo Bills Coach of the Week Winners
Week 11 – Tom Langworthy (Buffalo Region), Jamestown HS & Jeff Cusmano (Rochester Region), Attica HS
Week 9 – Jim Duprey (Buffalo Region), Pioneer HS & Scott Nugent (Rochester Region), Brockport HS
Week 8 – David Skrip (Buffalo Region), Albion HS & Isiah Young (Rochester Region), U-Prep
