Bob McCartney, the Steelers long-time video director who is now the team’s director of facilities, will be one of the 2024 recipients of the Pro Football Hall of Fame “Awards of Excellence.” In addition, former Steelers assistant coach Lionel Taylor, who was with the Steelers from 1970-76 and part of two Super Bowl championship teams, and Dan Edwards, the former Steelers media relations director from 1985-94, who went on to spend 29 years with the Jacksonville Jaguars, are also being honored. In addition, Dave Levy, the former long-time video director for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be part of the group. Levy, who is from the Pittsburgh area, started off working at Steelers training camp and as an assistant of McCartney’s until he took the job with the Bucs at age 20, believed to be the youngest NFL video director ever.

This is the third year for the Awards of Excellence, which started in 2022 to honor those in five categories who contribute to the success of the team. They include assistant coaches, athletic trainers, film/video directors, equipment managers and public relations personnel. Former Steelers public relations director Joe Gordon and equipment manager Tony Parisi were part of the initial group honored with the “Awards of Excellence” in 2022.

The names of the winners of the “Awards of Excellence” will be placed on display inside a designated area of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Museum in Canton. Award recipients will be invited to the 2024 Enshrinement Week and will be recognized in Canton this August.

McCartney has worked for the Steelers for 51 seasons and the first game he ever filmed was an iconic one.

While McCartney had filmed practice on occasion for the team during the 1972 season, he never filmed a game as he was working part-time helping in other departments, including the equipment and training room.

But on December 23, 1972, help was needed when the Steelers were hosting the Raiders in the AFC Divisional Playoffs, and McCartney was asked to film the game from the end zone location high atop Three Rivers Stadium.

And when Franco Harris caught the ‘Immaculate Reception,’ McCartney didn’t get the shot.

Simply because he ran out of film.

“I cruise through the first three quarters, and I changed my last magazine on my camera,” recalled McCartney. “I started to shoot and of course now the game gets a little tense. And I don’t want to miss anything. So, I’m starting early and running long on plays.

“And as it turns out at the two-minute warning, I ran out of film.