ATLANTA - The Maxwell Football Club National Awards Gala took center stage at the Coca-Cola Roxy, marking its 89th annual celebration with a gathering of football's finest from the NFL, college, and high school levels. Among the honorees was BYU head football coach Kalani Sitake, who received the prestigious 2025 Buddy Teevens Award.
Sitake was one of 18 awardees recognized during Saturday night's event, hosted by College Football Hall of Famer Don McPherson. The award, introduced by Peyton Manning, honors the late Dartmouth coach Buddy Teevens, celebrating exceptional leadership and lasting impact on the game.
Peyton Manning praised Sitake, saying, "Coach Sitake is the perfect steward of Buddy's legacy. Buddy would be proud of the work he does on and off the field."
Sitake's leadership has been instrumental in BYU's impressive 12-2 season and No. 11 national ranking, building a program marked by consistency and a winning culture. "Buddy Teevens stood for everything great in our profession," Sitake remarked, expressing gratitude to his team and fellow awardees.
The evening also celebrated a host of other distinguished figures:
- Curt Cignetti, Indiana head coach, took home the George Munger Award.
- Fernando Mendoza, Indiana quarterback, was honored with the Maxwell Award.
- Jacob Rodriquez, Texas Tech linebacker, received the Chuck Bednarik Award.
- Julian Sayin, Ohio State quarterback, won the Shaun Alexander Award.
- Blake Horvath from the Naval Academy was recognized with the inaugural Maxwell Military Service Academy Leadership Award and as a CSC Division I Academic All-American Team Member of the Year.
Additional accolades went to:
- Jack Strand, Minnesota State University Moorhead quarterback (CSC Division II Academic All-American)
- Robby Ballentine, DePauw University wide receiver (CSC Division III Academic All-American)
- Zachary Myers, Evangel University defensive end (CSC NAIA Academic All-American)
- Eddie George, Bowling Green State head coach (MFC Legends Award)
- Doug Williams, Grambling State head coach (Maxwell HBCU Award)
- Danny Wuerffel, former NFL quarterback (Francis J.
"Reds" Bagnell Award)
- John Abraham, former NFL defensive end (Inaugural Herschel Walker Award)
- Ben Johnson, Chicago Bears head coach (Earle "Greasy" Neale Award)
- Drake Maye, New England Patriots quarterback (Bert Bell Award)
- Joe O'Brien, LaSalle College High School (Jim Henry Award)
- Matt Sieg, Fort Cherry High School (Maxwell National High School Player of the Year)
- Kiera Quinn, Gwynedd Mercy Academy (Maxwell National High School Girls Flag Football Player of the Year)
Maxwell Football Club President Mark Dianno addressed the crowd, celebrating the evening's achievements and paying tribute to the late Lou Holtz, a College Football Hall of Fame coach who recently passed away. The Gala, set in Atlanta's vibrant Battery District, was a fitting tribute to those who shape the game we love.