This one is personal for NFL Network. Without Steve Sabol, there might not be a NFL Network.
The official rundown:
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“I’ve Always Believed in Making Films That You Make the Little Decisions with Your Head, But You Make the Big Decisions with Your Heart.” – Steve Sabol
Rich Eisen Hosts ‘A Football Life: Backstory’ at 10:00 PM ET
As a filmmaker and as president at NFL Films, Steve Sabol was able to combine his two greatest passions: film and football. The result forever changed the way fans watched and connected with the game, and his life left an indelible mark on those who knew him personally and even those whom he had never met.
The two-time Emmy-nominated series which Sabol himself gave a name to – A Football Life – continues Tuesday, October 1 at 9:00 PM ET on NFL Network with a remembrance of the late president of NFL Films and one of the most influential people in the history of the National Football League.
The one-hour documentary features footage from classic NFL Films movies and interviews, family photos and old films of Steve, and time spent at home and with his family. Additionally, throughout the show, NFL Films employees read thousands of emails which were sent to Steve following his seizure in 2011, and individuals who Steve reached out to and inspired share their memories. It is a film about Steve told by those who knew him best – family, friends, co-workers – and those who didn’t know him at all.
Emmy-nominated actor from CBS’ The Good Wife, Josh Charles, narrates.
Steve Sabol: A Football Life includes interviews with the following people:
Ed Sabol – Steve’s father
Audrey Sabol – Steve’s mother
Blair Sabol – Steve’s sister
Penny Ashman – Steve’s wife
Carl Peterson – Former Kansas City Chiefs president/general manager/chief executive officer
Al Hunt – Haverford classmate
Ed Loosli – Colorado College classmate
Al Loosli – Colorado College classmate
Bruce Boyd – Colorado College classmate
Bob Ryan – NFL Films producer
Peter Berg – Film director
Pete Pranica – Television play-by-play announcer for the Memphis Grizzlies
Provided below are some select quotes from Steve Sabol: A Football Life:
– “I’ve always believed in making films that you make the little decisions with your head, but you make the big decisions with your heart.” – Steve Sabol
– “Life is great; football is better. Steve Sabol.” – Ed Sabol
– “I don’t think as I look back that Steve and I had a typical father-son relationship. I think we loved each other in a very quiet way. I think we got through life pretty good.” – Ed Sabol
– “My brother thought in frames and story, drama.” – Blair Sabol
– “I’ve never seen anyone so passionate to come to work every single day. His films were passionate. That was the element that was never used in sports films: passion.” – Bob Ryan
– “He truly was the face of the National Football League.” – Carl Peterson
– “Steve’s life was about vibrancy.” – Al Hunt
Following the episode, Rich Eisen hosts A Football Life: Backstory at 10:00 PM ET, a 30-minute show that provides a deeper look into the life and story of Steve Sabol. Joining the show will be Super Bowl winning head coach Dick Vermeil in-studio and former NFL quarterback Ron Jaworski will be live from NFL Films. Viewers will also have the opportunity to interact and offer their thoughts on Twitter by following @NFLNetwork and using the hashtag #AFootballLife.
Viewers can also interact with and follow the series on their phones and tablets with A Football Life Xtra. Located within the new NFL Mobile app, A Football Life Xtra features producer commentary, photos and artifacts from the NFL Films archives, and career stats and unique facts, as well as trivia games and polls on NFL legends. Visit NFL.com/xtra on your mobile device to download NFL Mobile. Additionally, every episode of A Football Life – as well as all NFL Network programming – is streamed live on NFL Mobile from Verizon, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Below is the broadcast schedule for the remaining October episodes of A Football Life:
- October 8 – Matt Millen
- October 15 – Michael Strahan
- October 22 – Pat Summerall
- October 29 – Warren Sapp