49ers RB coach Bobby Turner earns PFWA lifetime achievement award

The Pro Football Writers of America announced the 2021 Paul "Dr. Z" Zimmerman Award winners. The award is given for lifetime achievement as an assistant coach in the NFL and named after Zimmerman, who covered the NFL for 29 years for Sports Illustrated.

The two recipients are San Francisco 49ers running backs coach Bobby Turner and Las Vegas Raiders defensive line coach Rod Marinelli.

"Turner is in his 26th season as an NFL assistant coach in 2021, and his fifth as San Francisco's running backs coach," wrote the PFWA in its announcement. "Turner is responsible for overseeing three of the top nine rookie rushing seasons in the NFL since 1970 with Alfred Morris, Clinton Portis and Mike Anderson. He also served as running backs coach with Atlanta (2015-16), Washington (2010-14) and Denver (1995-2009).

"In Denver, he worked with top-shelf Broncos backs including Terrell Davis, Anderson, Olandis Gary, Portis, among others, as the franchise was in the NFL's top five in rushing during 10 of his 15 seasons there. He has coached in four Super Bowls with three different franchises (XXXII, XXXIII with Denver, LI with Atlanta and LIV with San Francisco) and has a pair of victories with the Broncos."