George Kittle Touchdown Photo Wins Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Top Honor

The Pro Football Hall of Fame has announced the winners of its prestigious 58th Annual Photo Contest, with photographer Kyle Terada earning the 2025 Dave Boss Award of Excellence for an unforgettable image featuring George Kittle soaring toward the end zone.

Terada’s winning photograph, titled “George Kittle TD,” captured the San Francisco 49ers star tight end diving toward the pylon during a game against the Los Angeles Rams on Nov. 9, 2025, at Levi’s Stadium. The dramatic shot stood out among nearly 1,300 submissions entered in the Hall of Fame’s annual contest honoring the best photography from the 2025 NFL season.

The image was praised by judges for perfectly capturing the intensity, athleticism and emotion of professional football.

“In one photo, you can feel the athleticism, the intensity, the joy and the competitiveness of the subject,” judge Brad Smith said.

Terada, who shoots for Imagn Images, revealed the image came from taking a risk with his camera placement. Using the tilt screen on his Sony camera, he positioned it at ground level to create a dramatic low-angle perspective underneath Kittle as the tight end stretched for the touchdown.

“Sometimes it’s a gamble shooting low and not having the camera to your face,” Terada said. “Luckily, I was focused on Kittle when he caught the ball and dove.”