Red Bull and Jack Nelson Lead NFL Equipment Management Elite

GREEN BAY – Gordon “Red” Batty and Jack Noel, who worked more than 60 seasons combined for the Green Bay Packers , are among the three individuals receiving Awards of Excellence from the Pro Football Hall of Fame this year. The Hall announced March 18 that Batty and Noel were chosen in the equipment managers category, along with Kansas City’s Mike Davidson. All three will be honored June 24-25 in Canton, Ohio.

Then-general manager Ron Wolf hired Batty away from the Houston Oilers in 1994 to succeed Bob Noel, Jack’s brother, who had been the team’s equipment manager since 1977. Batty retired in April of 2024, serving a total of 43 years in the NFL. Batty modernized the Packers ’ equipment room and oversaw the transition from the team’s previous locker room to the much larger space the team uses now.

A friendly and outgoing man, Batty was well-known to everyone in the football operation and outfitted players, coaches and staff in team equipment and apparel. A Montreal native, Batty began working in 1974 at age 14 as an equipment assistant for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League. At the age of 20, he was elevated to the position of equipment manager for the Alouettes, who won two Grey Cups (1974 and '77) during his tenure.

The Oilers hired him to be their equipment manager in 1980. Jack Noel worked with his brother for three decades, starting in 1977 and serving until Batty took over in '94. The Hall of Fame’s Awards of Excellence were created to honor those who work behind the scenes in the NFL.