The Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA) have announced the recipients of the 2025 Terez A. Paylor Emerging Writer Award, honoring Katherine Fitzgerald and Daniel Oyefusi. This marks a significant milestone as Fitzgerald and Oyefusi become the first co-recipients since the award's inception in 2021.
Fitzgerald, a steadfast journalist covering the Buffalo Bills for the Buffalo News, and Oyefusi, who reports on the Cleveland Browns for ESPN.com, have both been recognized for their exceptional professionalism and dedication to football journalism.
The Terez Paylor Award stands as a testament to emerging writers who exemplify dedication, a strong work ethic, and a commitment to fostering diversity in NFL media, all principles that Paylor himself championed throughout his illustrious career. Paylor, known for his impactful work with Yahoo! Sports and the Kansas City Star, passed away in February 2021 at the age of 37.
Fitzgerald has been with the Buffalo News since 2021, transitioning from a career covering a variety of sports teams—including the Arizona Cardinals and Phoenix Suns—during her tenure with the Arizona Republic and USA Today.
Oyefusi joined ESPN’s NFL Nation as a Browns beat reporter in April 2024, following his previous role covering the Miami Dolphins for the Miami Herald.
Rounding out the esteemed list of finalists for the Paylor Award were Ben Arthur of Fox Sports and Kris Rhim from ESPN.com, showcasing a group of writers poised to continue Paylor’s legacy of excellence in sports journalism.
