Steelers quarterbacks check out Willie Thrower Award for area’s top QB

By: Tribune-Review
Saturday, August 19, 2023 | 7:01 AM

The Willie Thrower Award trophy made its way to Pittsburgh Steelers training camp this week.

The trophy is awarded annually to the top quarterback from WPIAL and City League schools.

Steelers quarterbacks Tanner Morgan, Mitch Trubisky, Kenny Pickett and Mason Rudolph posed with the 2023 Willie Thrower Award at the team’s training camp at Saint Vincent College.

This year’s winner will be determined by a vote among coaches and media members after the season and will be awarded April 6 at a luncheon in New Kensington.

The winner for the last two seasons was Cadin Olsen of Armstrong High School. The first award winner in 2020 was Cole Spencer of Pine-Richland.

The Willie Thrower Award Foundation also is planning a series of events in October to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Thrower becoming the first Black quarterback back to take a snap in an NFL game on Oct. 18, 1953, while with the Chicago Bears, in a game against the San Francisco 49ers.

The schedule of events will be released once it becomes solidified in several weeks.

Thrower, who died in 2002, played at Valley and was a New Kensington native.

Tags: Valley