The San Francisco 49ers public relations staff was announced as the 2024 Pete Rozelle Award winner by the Professional Football Writers of America for the first time in franchise history. 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.
During the 2023 season, the 49ers football communications staff consisted of vice president of football communications Corry Rush, director of football communications Peter Volmut, manager of football communications Kristin Wojcik and coordinator of football communications Zackary Teats. The staff was also assisted by football communications seasonal intern Caleigh Elkin, director of communications and public affairs Ellie Caple, senior manager of communications and public affairs Josh Stephens and senior coordinator of corporate communications Jacob Fill.
"I got permission to be a fly on the locker room wall during halftime two seasons ago. It's true. In a league bent on keeping even marginally sensitive information triple-bolted and away from prying eyes, I was allowed into a rarely seen inner sanctum. No, the 49ers PR department doesn't fulfill every request it gets. But it at least is willing to listen to and consider them, and many story pitches – from an in-season chat with the QBs coach to getting a pair of star players together for a sit-down session – have been granted in recent seasons," said PFWA San Francisco chapter president Matt Barrows of The Athletic. "That's the 49ers PR department's greatest strength: Facilitating requests that lead to better stories and a better understanding of the game by readers and viewers."
Pete Rozelle Award Winners
- 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 and 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
Learn more about the Rozelle Award here.
