Tribute to Steve Sabol of NFL Films

I was saddened to learn of the passing of NFL Films president Steve Sabol today. Steve (along with his father Ed) contributed so much to the growth of the NFL with creative and innovative filmmaking.

I remember watching This Week in Pro Football back in the 1970s with Pat Summerall and Tom Brookshier voicing over game highlights from the previous week. And the Super Bowl highlight films narrated by the great voice of John Facenda, most notably the miking of Chiefs coach Hank Stram for the Super Bowl IV edition.

Sabol artfully mixed footage and narration with the iconic music of Sam Spence.



I need to mention two of my favorite recent features from NFL Films. First was the Lost Treasures of NFL Films series from 2002 where Sabol unearthed behind the scenes vault footage which had never been aired.



And secondly, the 2009 series Full Color Football: The History of the American Football League which chonicled the birth and growth of the AFL.



Thank you Steve Sabol for all of your contributions to chronicle the history of professional football. The Hall of Fame finally inducted your dad in 2011. You belong in Canton with him.