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‘Caught in the Draft’ Returns to NFL Network Thursday, April 2

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NFL Films-Produced Series on Historic NFL Drafts Airs Thursdays at 9:00 PM ET on NFL Network

Finale Airs Wednesday, April 29 on Eve of 2015 NFL Draft in Chicago

Examines NFL Drafts From 1965, 1975, 1985, 1995 & 2005

Before the 2015 NFL Draft kicks off, the NFL Films-produced series Caught in the Draft returns for a second season, providing a comprehensive look back at five previous drafts: 1965, 1975, 1985, 1995 and 2005.

Premiering Thursday, April 2 at 9:00 PM ET on NFL Network and airing every Thursday leading up to the 2015 NFL Draft in Chicago, the five-episode series examines five specific drafts which had a profound impact on the National Football League and helped to transform the NFL Draft into the enormous event it has become. The season finale airs on Wednesday, April 29, one night before the start of the 2015 NFL Draft. In addition to NFL Network, Caught in the Draft is also available within the NFL Network 24/7 stream in NFL Mobile.

Actor Oliver Platt narrates the series.

Provided below is a list of each episode of Caught in the Draft and when it airs on NFL Network:

  • 1965: Spies, Superstars & Babysitters (April 2) – The 1965 Draft was the most fiercely fought event between the rival National and American Football Leagues. It was a fierce battle for such future Hall of Fame greats Joe Namath, Dick Butkus and Gale Sayers. The two arch-enemies competed for the top college talent by breaking gentlemen’s agreements, testing limits of NCAA boundaries, and even sabotaging each other with “dirty tricks” and deceptions that mirrored the real-world Cold War and the spy movies and TV shows of the era. Features interviews with Joe Namath, Dick Butkus, Gale Sayers, Craig Morton, Fred Biletnikoff, Ron Wolf and more.
  • 1975: Agents of Change (April 9) – In a draft that would be remembered for Walter Payton, top pick Steve Bartkowski sets the NFL world afire by asking his college dorm-mate Leigh Steinberg to negotiate his contract. Features interviews with Leigh Steinberg, Gil Brandt, Hollywood Henderson, Dan Fouts, Steve Bartkowski, Robert Brazile and more.
  • 1985: Schemes and Dreams (April 16) – Bill Walsh trades up with the New England Patriots and lands wide receiver Jerry Rice. But was that the original plan? For the first time, former Cincinnati Bengals head coach Sam Wyche reveals Walsh’s frantic efforts to trade for the top-billed receiver in the draft, Eddie Brown, while Bernie Kosar stuns the world by entering the supplemental draft and landing in Cleveland. Features interviews with Jerry Rice, Bruce Smith, Randall Cunningham, Doug Flutie, Herschel Walker, Ernie Accorsi and more.
  • 1995: Expansion (April 23) – Despite wowing at the NFL Scouting Combine, workout warrior Mike Mamula struggles on the field. Highly-touted running back Kijana Carter has a disappointing career, while draft afterthoughts Terrell Davis and Curtis Martin become stars. Features interviews with Tom Coughlin, Tony Dungy, Derrick Brooks, Curtis Martin, Terrell Davis, Kijana Carter and more.
  • 2005: How Low Will Aaron Go? (April 29) – Aaron Rodgers drops in the draft while waiting in the Green Room, while former New York Giants general manager Ernie Accorsi enjoys his best draft ever. Features interviews with Aaron Rodgers, Justin Tuck, Mike McCarthy, Bill Polian, Cadillac Williams, Ronnie Brown and more.

Through archival sources and fresh interviews, Caught in the Draft provides viewers with the most compelling stories from each draft and offers a look inside at just how differently drafts were conducted in the past, and how the nature of the game as it was played in each of those times dictated the types of players selected. Additionally, each episode of Caught in the Draft features graphics and music related to that period of time, truly putting viewers “in the moment” of each decade.

Exclusively for Verizon customers, NFL Mobile offers live streams of NFL Network’s Caught in the Draft via smartphones for fans on the go. Access to the live stream is included at no extra charge with The More Everything Plan from Verizon. Customers not on The More Everything Plan can subscribe to NFL Mobile Premium for $5/month. For more information, visit vzw.com/nfl. Data usage applies for app download and use. Available on iOS, Android, Windows 8, and Blackberry devices.

Every Monday – Friday leading up to the 2015 NFL Draft, Path to the Draft airs at 6:00 PM ET on NFL Network with analysts Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks), Charles Davis (@CFD22), Curtis Conway (@CurtisConway80), Brian Baldinger and Charley Casserly, and host Andrew Siciliano (@AndrewSiciliano). For all of the latest news and analysis leading up to the draft, visit NFL.com/cfb and follow on Twitter (@NFL_CFB).

ABOUT NFL NETWORK

Seven days a week, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, fans turn to NFL Network to receive information and insight straight from the field, team headquarters, league offices and everywhere the NFL is making news. Launched in 2003, NFL Network gives fans unprecedented year-round inside access to all NFL events, including the Super Bowl, Playoffs, regular season, preseason, Pro Bowl, Pro Football Hall of Fame induction weekend, NFL Draft, NFL Scouting Combine, Senior Bowl, league meetings, minicamps and training camps.

Currently in more than 72 million homes, NFL Network has carriage agreements with each of the country’s largest television providers including Comcast, DirecTV, DISH Network, Cablevision, Cox, Charter, Time Warner Cable, Verizon FiOS and AT&T U-Verse.

For fans on the go, all NFL Network programming can also be streamed live on the NFL Mobile from Verizon app (NFL.com/mobile), the NFL app delivered on XBOX from Microsoft, and through Watch NFL Network (NFL.com/watch), with participating cable and satellite providers. For more information, log on to NFL.com/nflnetwork.  NFL.com is the exclusive internet home of NFL Network.

 

– NFL MEDIA –

Hall of Fame Coach & Creator of the West Coast Offense Bill Walsh Profiled on NFL Network’s ‘A Football Life’

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NFL_Network_2012_Logo‘Bill Walsh: A Football Life’ Premieres Friday, January 23 at 9:00 PM ET on NFL Network

“I look for the roots of Bill [Walsh] in places that I’m visiting and they’re always there. The game was coached, played, managed [and] owned in a very archaic way for a long time. Bill changed that fundamentally at every level forever.” – Steve Young

He was labeled a genius, but he also was an insecure, tortured artist. After revolutionizing the NFL with the team of the 1980s, Hall of Fame coach Bill Walsh wrote a book that has become the bible for generations of football coaches.

NFL Network’s series A Football Life continues Friday, January 23 at 9:00 PM ET with Bill Walsh, one of the most successful and revolutionary coaches in NFL history. The special 90-minute NFL Films-produced documentary includes interviews and revelations from former and current NFL coaches, current and former NFL players, the co-author of his book, Finding the Winning Edge, former San Francisco 49er officials and his children Craig and Liz. Bill Walsh: A Football Life also addresses the emotional toll Walsh dealt with throughout his football life.

Following the premiere of Bill Walsh: A Football Life on NFL Network, the episode – along with the entire A Football Life series – will be available on NFL Now, the League’s next-generation video service. Providing fans access to the largest digital library of NFL video anywhere, NFL Now dynamically personalizes each fan’s viewing experience, allowing them to follow their favorite NFL teams and players. Visit NFL.com/now for more information.

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.

Among the topics discussed in Bill Walsh: A Football Life are:

  • His opinion on being called a ‘genius’
  • The desire to be perfect
  • A behind-the-scenes look at his transition from an assistant coach with the Cincinnati Bengals to the head coach with the San Francisco 49ers
  • What it was like when Paul Brown told other football organizations that Bill Walsh wasn’t cut out for a head coaching position
  • How he felt after retiring
  • His relationship with his players and coaches
  • Almost trading quarterback Joe Montana

Emmy-nominated actor Josh Charles narrates.

Bill Walsh: A Football Life includes interviews with the following people and more:

Bill Walsh

Liz Walsh – Bill’s daughter                

Craig Walsh – Bill’s son                    

Joe Montana – Hall of Fame quarterback               

Steve Young – Hall of Fame quarterback

Jerry Rice – Hall of Fame wide receiver

Dwight Clark – Former San Francisco 49ers wide receiver

Ronnie Lott – Hall of Fame safety

Randy Cross – Former San Francisco 49ers offensive lineman

Brian Billick – Former Super Bowl-winning head coach

Bill Parcells – Hall of Fame head coach

Bill Belichick – New England Patriots head coach

Mike Ditka – Former Super Bowl-winning head coach

Dick Vermeil – Former Super Bowl-winning head coach

John Harbaugh – Baltimore Ravens head coach

Andy Reid – Kansas City Chiefs head coach

Sam Wyche – Former Cincinnati Bengals head coach

Eddie DeBartolo, Jr. – Former San Francisco 49ers owner

Carmen Policy – Former San Francisco 49ers executive

Condoleezza Rice – Former Stanford provost

Jim Peterson – Co-author, Finding the Winning Edge

Provided below are some select quotes from Bill Walsh: A Football Life:

– “I look for the roots of Bill in places that I’m visiting and they’re always there. The game was coached, played, managed, [and] owned in a very archaic way for a long time. Bill changed that fundamentally at every level forever.” – Steve Young

– “It’s the Bible of football coaching.” – John Harbaugh

– “I wish I would’ve enjoyed it more because those were the truly golden years.” – Bill Walsh

– “It just wasn’t good enough you know? But that sort of seemed to be how a lot of things had been for him. Even if this was a success he would still somehow find a way to not consider it one.” – Liz Walsh

– “At the start of my third year, I just wanted our team to have some respect in the National Football League because we didn’t.” – Bill Walsh

– “He would put plays in in meetings sometimes and say, ‘You don’t have to flinch when you catch this, there won’t be anyone around. You’ll be wide open’…You’d catch it and get ready to get hit and turn around and he would be right. Nobody would be there.” – Dwight Clark

– “You can’t say Bill Walsh without the word genius goes with it. He was offended by that. That intimates that this is just some intuitive knowledge that came to me from divine inspiration as opposed to the painstaking years of developing what is laid out in this book.” – Brian Billick

– “Bill would often talk about the term genius as embarrassing and he wished it would just disappear and go away but the truth of the matter is he loved it. He absolutely loved it.” – Carmen Policy

– “Our system of football sustained itself and we refined it further and further each year until at some point it might even have even been an art form.” – Bill Walsh

– “That’s why he was such a great leader. He got the best out of people.” – Condoleezza Rice

– “I think Bill Walsh was from another planet to be honest with you. He was so far ahead.” – Jerry Rice

– “For every person that said that we were finesse, he wanted to go punch them in the mouth.” – Ronnie Lott

– “When he quit, there were a lot of guys that wanted to win the Super Bowl so bad the following year because we wanted to prove that we could win it without him. That became the battle cry that year.” – Ronnie Lott

– “He was just a great coach, a great man and great person. I wish I had a lot more time with him.” – Joe Montana

– “He was calling Joe [Montana] and I in and Bill [Walsh] was like, ‘Joe, I’m playing Steve today.’ You know this is Joe Montana right? ‘Steve’s got a set of plays and I’m going to put him in so just know that’s coming.’ You could see Joe…If Joe had a knife there was a problem.” – Steve Young

ABOUT NFL NETWORK

Seven days a week, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, fans turn to NFL Network to receive information and insight straight from the field, team headquarters, league offices and everywhere the NFL is making news. Launched in 2003, NFL Network gives fans unprecedented year-round inside access to all NFL events, including the Super Bowl, Playoffs, regular season, preseason, Pro Bowl, Pro Football Hall of Fame induction weekend, NFL Draft, NFL Scouting Combine, Senior Bowl, league meetings, minicamps and training camps.

Currently in more than 72 million homes, NFL Network has carriage agreements with each of the country’s largest television providers including Comcast, DirecTV, DISH Network, Cablevision, Cox, Charter, Time Warner Cable, Verizon FiOS and AT&T U-Verse.

For fans on the go, all NFL Network programming can also be streamed live on the NFL Mobile from Verizon app (NFL.com/mobile), the NFL app delivered on XBOX from Microsoft, and through Watch NFL Network (NFL.com/watch), with participating cable and satellite providers. For more information, log on to NFL.com/nflnetwork.  NFL.com is the exclusive internet home of NFL Network.

– NFL MEDIA –

NFL Network’s ‘A Football Life’ Series Profiles the Inspirational Steve Gleason

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NFL-filmsNFL NETWORK’S A FOOTBALL LIFE  SERIES PROFILES THE INSPIRATIONAL STEVE GLEASON

Emmy-Nominated Series Continues Tuesday, November 26,

at 9:00 PM ET

“My Life is Not Easy, But It’s Awesome.” – Steve Gleason

Members of Team Gleason In-Studio for
A Football Life: Backstory at 10:00 PM ET

Leading Washington State to the Rose Bowl or being the central figure in the New Orleans Saints’ most iconic play defines a football life. Facilitating awareness for an incurable disease defines a legacy.

NFL Network’s Emmy-nominated series A Football Life continues Tuesday, November 26 at 9:00 PM ET with a profile of the inspirational Steve Gleason who is currently living with ALS, an incurable neurological disease. The one-hour special chronicles Gleason’s football career, the early stages of his retirement, his life-altering diagnosis and his new livelihood as a patient, spokesperson, and trailblazer.

Each day, Gleason is challenged and rewarded in ways opponents and victories never could. Featured stories in Steve Gleason: A Football Life are:

·         ALS Diagnosis: After eight NFL seasons, Gleason retired and began a new chapter of his life. He was married, he traveled and was spontaneous.  However, after two years of retirement, his care-free life was forced to slow down. Ahead of him was a battery of tests to determine his illness. Eight months later, Gleason and his family’s worst fears were confirmed: he had ALS.

Steve Gleason: A Football Life details his family’s reaction to the traumatic diagnosis and the inevitable deterioration of Gleason’s physical abilities.  Fast-forwarding to present day, Gleason demonstrates how he is able to communicate with others and what his day-to-day life is like living with ALS.

·         No White Flags: Steve Gleason’s story has positively inspired many people since he went public with his diagnosis.  Furthermore, his foundation Team Gleason, has become the voice of ALS patients throughout the world.

With the mantra “No White Flags,” Team Gleason views no obstacle as too big and no challenge as unattainable. In fact, the foundation specializes in setting up adventures for those suffering with ALS and other neurological muscle diseases. The ultimate goal behind the foundation is to create ALS awareness which will facilitate medical research, and create a path toward a cure for ALS.

Team Gleason’s tangible impact is best demonstrated through The Team Gleason House for Innovative Living – a housing complex to help those who suffer from ALS and other neurological muscle diseases. Steve calls the house “The most significant achievement for his foundation to date.”

·         The Ascent of Machu Picchu: Climbing Machu Picchu is a challenge for the healthiest people. With Steve Gleason’s limitations and his toddler son, Rivers, along for the climb, Team Gleason tried to do the impossible.

Steve Gleason: A Football Life documents the entire adventure – from preparation, to traveling to Peru, and the ascent up mountain. As former NFL player and teammate of Gleason Scott Fujita summed up during the climb, “Football has nothing on this.”

Team Gleason faced a number of challenges which almost derailed the mission. However, it was the chance encounter with Jenny Gonzalez – a fan of Team Gleason – which positively changed the whole trip.

Steve Gleason: A Football Life includes interviews with the following people:

Drew Brees – New Orleans Saints quarterback

Scott Fujita – Former Saints teammate and Gleason’s best friend

Gail Gleason – Steve’s mother

Michel Varisco Gleason – Steve’s wife

Mike Gleason – Steve’s father
Kyle Gleason – Steve’s brother

Blair Casey – General Manager of Team Gleason

Kevin Swan – Fellow ALS patient

H.T. Higgins – Gleason’s football coach at Gonzaga Prep High School

Jenny Gonzalez  – Fan of Team Gleason

Dr. Jim Logan – One of Steve’s doctors

 

A first look at Steve Gleason: A Football Life can be viewed here:

http://on.nfl.com/189y2JC

A Football Life: Backstory – Immediately Following at 10:00 PM ET 

New this season, A Football Life: Backstory airs following each A Football Life episode at 10:00 PM ET on NFL Network. The 30-minute show provides a deeper look into Steve Gleason’s life and story. This week, joining host Jenn Brown, are members of Team Gleason including Blair Casey and Clare Durrett. Additionally, the producer of the film Charlie Askew will be in-studio to talk about the making of the documentary and Jenny Gonzalez, who met Steve Gleason by happenstance, will be live to talk about the chance-encounter and how it impacted her life.

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A Football Life: Xtra

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.

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Airing on Tuesday nights at 9:00 PM ET throughout the NFL season, A Football Life series examines the iconic individuals and subjects that have had an undeniable and profound impact on the history of the National Football League, offering an inside look into their untold stories.

A broadcast schedule for future episodes of A Football Life:

  • December 3 – Great Wall of Dallas
  • December 10 – Houston ‘93
  • December 17 – Marty Schottenheimer

Please click on the following link to view the trailer for this season of A Football Life:

http://www.nfl.com/videos/a-football-life/0ap2000000229735/2013-A-Football-Life-trailer

Invention of The Forward Pass Examined on NFL Network’s ‘A Football Life’ Tuesday, November 19 at 9:00 PM ET

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nfln-releaseTwo-Time Emmy-Nominated Series Continues Tuesday, November 19 at 9:00 PM ET

Features Interviews with Dan Fouts, Joe Namath, Roger Staubach, Mike Martz, Chuck Klosterman & More

What do Teddy Roosevelt, Knute Rockne, George Carlin, the Atomic Bomb, the Hail Mary Prayer, Marcia Brady’s broken nose and “American Pie” all have in common? The Forward Pass.

As ubiquitous as it is now, throwing the football was once unimaginable. For the first four decades of football’s existence, the Forward Pass was illegal. However, with rising safety concerns surrounding the game of football, President Roosevelt intervened. It was his demand that rules makers open up the game by legalizing the Forward Pass that saved football from abolition and created the sport we love.

NFL Network’s two-time Emmy-nominated series continues Tuesday, November 19 at 9:00 PM ET with The Forward Pass: A Football Life. The one-hour documentary examines the implementation of the Forward Pass into the game of football and the profound affect it has had on the game and its players, as well as on how football is viewed in society. The Forward Pass: A Football Life tells the story of one of America’s greatest inventions and how it transformed football from a lackluster rugby-style game of running and kicking into the uniquely American spectacle it has become.

Among the topics discussed in the documentary are:

  • The role President Theodore Roosevelt played in legalizing the Forward Pass and how it ultimately saved football
  • Knute Rockne’s “invention” of the Forward Pass in a 1913 game between Notre Dame and Army, and Hollywood’s role in mythologizing that event
  • How football coach and innovator Clark Shaughnessy’s T-formation transformed the quarterback from a blocking back into the hero of every football game
  • Former NFL MVP Boomer Esiason demonstrates how the evolving shape of the football made it easier to throw the Forward Pass by throwing footballs from throughout history
  • Former NFL quarterback Doug Flutie demonstrates how the Forward Pass eliminated the Drop Kick
  • How Don Coryell and Bill Walsh utilized and revived the Forward Pass
  • What is the meaning of Don McLean’s use of “The Forward Pass” in the lyrics of “American Pie”?

Emmy-nominated actor from CBS’ The Good Wife, Josh Charles, narrates.

The Forward Pass: A Football Life includes interviews with the following people and more:

Bill Belichick – New England Patriots head coach

Dan Fouts – Hall of Fame quarterback

Joe Namath – Hall of Fame quarterback

Roger Staubach – Hall of Fame quarterback

Steve Young – Hall of Fame quarterback

Mike Martz – Former NFL head coach

Boomer Esiason – Former NFL quarterback

Doug Flutie – Former NFL quarterback

Brian Billick – Former NFL head coach

Joe Gibbs – Former NFL head coach

George Seifert – Former NFL head coach

Michael Oriard – Author, Reading Football

Chuck Klosterman – Author, Eating the Dinosaur

John J. Miller – Author, The Big Scrum

Provided below are some select quotes from The Forward Pass: A Football Life:

– “Americans are great innovators; we have a great history of invention…The Forward Pass when you think about it fits nicely into that tradition. It’s a great innovation that turns a sport like rugby into American football.” – John J. Miller

– “There weren’t many options for how to move the ball. Every play kind of looks like what you would expect from a goaline surge during a blizzard. People are just sort of hammering into each other trying to incrementally move the ball…Punting seemed like half of the game.” – Chuck Klosterman on the game of football before the introduction of the Forward Pass

– “It’s like throwing a weighted basketball with laces.” – Boomer Esiason on the rugby football used before the introduction of the Forward Pass

– “In 1913, we had Columbus coming to America in terms of football and that’s when Notre Dame showed up to play Army on the East Coast.” – John J. Miller

– “Everyone knows that [the quarterback is] the center of the game. If Tom Brady was a slot receiver, would he date Gisele [Bundchen]? It’s possible he might – it’s very possible Wes Welker could have ended up dating Gisele, but it doesn’t seem like it. Joe Flacco has a better chance to date someone like Gisele than Wes Welker.” – Chuck Klosterman

– “Throwing the bomb and hitting that long pass is just electrifying. It still is just thinking about it. You get goose bumps.” – Joe Namath

– “It was very prevalent that passing was too risky, and it was the way that they were thinking about it. But the way Bill [Walsh] talked about it – the short passing game – it was the extension of your running game.” – Steve Young

– “You take a look at the greatest plays of the last 50 years, it’s hard to come up with anything like a comprehensive list without going back time and again to the Forward Pass.” – Michael MacCambridge

Following the episode, Jenn Brown hosts A Football Life: Backstory at 10:00 PM ET, a 30-minute show that provides a deeper look into the lives and story of each subject, features interviews with relevant individuals, and includes material that did not make the final edition of the episode.

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 upcoming episodes of A Football Life:

  • November 26 – Steve Gleason
  • December 3 – Great Wall of Dallas
  • December 10 – Houston ‘93
  • December 17 – Marty Schottenheimer
  • December 24 – Vince Lombardi, Part 1
  • December 31 – Vince Lombardi, Part 2

NFL Films’ “They Call It Pro Football” Selected For Library Of Congress’ National Film Registry

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NFL-films1967 PRODUCTION CALLED “CITIZEN KANE OF SPORTS MOVIES”

FINAL FIVE MINUTES AVAILABLE ON NFL FILMS BLOG

The Librarian of Congress James H. Billington today selected NFL Films’ 1967 production “They Call It Pro Football” for inclusion in the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress.

“Established by Congress in 1989, the National Film Registry spotlights the importance of preserving America’s unparalleled film heritage,” said Billington. “These films are not selected as the ‘best’ American films of all time, but rather as works of enduring importance to American culture. They reflect who we are as a people and as a nation.”

The Library of Congress recognized the film as follows in its press release today:

Before “They Call It Pro Football” premiered, football films were little more than highlight reels set to the oom-pah of a marching band. In 1964, National Football League commissioner Pete Rozelle agreed to the formation of NFL Films. With a background in public relations, he recognized that the success of the league depended on its image on television, which required creating a mystique. “They Call It Pro Football,” the first feature of NFL Films, looked at the game “in dramaturgical terms,” capturing the struggle, not merely the outcome, of games played on the field. Written and produced by Steve Sabol, directed by John Hentz and featuring the commanding cadence of narrator John Facenda and the music of Sam Spence, the film presented football on an epic scale and in a way rarely seen by the spectator. Telephoto lenses brought close-ups of players’ faces into viewers’ living rooms. Slow motion revealed surprising intricacy and grace. Sweeping ground-to-sky shots imparted a “heroic angle.” Coaches and players wearing microphones let the audience in on strategy and emotion. “They Call It Pro Football” established a mold for subsequent productions by NFL Films and has well earned its characterization as the “Citizen Kane” of sports movies.

NFL Films president Steve Sabol long ago made “They Call It Pro Football” mandatory viewing for all NFL Films staffers. NFL Films named its NFL.com blog after the movie and has posted the final five minutes of the movie for viewing here (http://nflfilms.nfl.com/fact-figures/).

“They Call It Pro Football” joins the ranks of classics on the list including Casablanca, Gone with the Wind, The Graduate, Knute Rockne All American, Lawrence of Arabia, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, and The Wizard of Oz.

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FROM NFL FILMS VAULT: Introducing Keepr NFL Legends Series, a Premium Collectible Honoring the Game’s Greatest Players with Rare Video from the NFL Films Vault

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Available for the First Time, Keepr Plugs Into Your Computer and

Delivers A First-of-its-Kind Fan Experience; Proceeds Benefit Retired NFL Players

New York – 11-7-12 – The National Football League and Keepr Media today announced the availability of Keepr NFL Legends, a premium collectible paying tribute to legends of the NFL in an entirely new, interactive format. Like the legendary players the series honors, Keepr Media takes the football collectible to an entirely new level. Keepr includes a retractable USB plug-in that delivers rare footage from the NFL Films vault, along with spectacular photos and career stats.

The first year release includes 10 of the game’s greatest players: Mike Ditka, Franco Harris, Sonny Jurgensen, Howie Long, Joe Montana, Walter Payton, Deion Sanders, Phil Simms, Roger Staubach, and Johnny Unitas.

Each Keepr delivers 45 minutes of select highlights and interviews from NFL Films, capturing many of each player’s greatest and most memorable moments. Keepr also delivers iconic AP photography and comprehensive career stats, allowing fans to relive and reconnect with their heroes of the gridiron.

The Keepr is available at www.keeprmedia.com or by phone (866) 819-6110.

A portion of the proceeds of each sale of Keepr NFL Legends will benefit the NFL Player Care Foundation and other non-profit organizations dedicated to helping retired NFL players and their families with medical and financial hardships. The League will donate 100% of the licensing fees it receives from Keepr to the NFL Player Care Foundation.

“We believe this new type of collectible will broaden sports fans’ enjoyment of the NFL”, says Joe Browne, Senior Advisor to the Commissioner. “We also appreciate Keepr’s interest in helping to improve the quality of life for player alumni.”

“The Keepr creates an experience that’s like visiting the Hall of Fame for each player, right from your computer,” said Tom Matte, longtime Baltimore Colts running back and former backfield teammate to NFL legend Johnny Unitas. “We wanted to create something special to honor the legends while raising money for retired players.”

About Keepr Media, LLC

Keepr Media, LLC uses a proprietary technology platform to provide secure Content Management, Distribution and Affinity Marketing solutions for the Sports and Entertainment industries. Delivered in the form of a collectible, called Keepr, the product connects via USB to any Windows computer to deliver rich media content in a one-of-a-kind memorabilia experience. The Keepr enables consumers to relive the most memorable and game changing moments of their favorite teams, players and stars careers.

About NFL Player Care Foundation

The NFL Player Care Foundation (PCF) is an independent organization dedicated to helping retired players improve their quality of life. The PCF addresses all aspects of life – medical, emotional, financial, social and community – providing programs and assistance in each area.

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Travel Channel Partners With NFL Films And RIVR Media On Original Series, “NFL Road Tested: The Cleveland Browns,” Premiering Tuesday, Dec. 4

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TRAVEL CHANNEL PARTNERS WITH NFL FILMS AND RIVR MEDIA ON ORIGINAL SERIES,

“NFL ROAD TESTED: THE CLEVELAND BROWNS,” PREMIERING TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4

Series to Provide Unprecedented Behind-the-Scenes Look into an NFL Team

During the 2012 Season

CHEVY CHASE, MD (November 5, 2012) – Travel Channel has partnered with NFL Films and RIVR Media on a new series that pulls back the curtain on the current 2012 season of the Cleveland Browns in “NFL Road Tested: The Cleveland Browns,” premiering on Tuesday, December 4 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

NFL Films will provide unprecedented access to Travel Channel to unveil never-before-seen footage of what it takes to travel an entire professional football team from city to city, game to game, during the regular season.  Every road trip requires a massive amount of coordination to haul the 150-person squad 20,000 miles a season.  From feeding an entire team, to clothing and housing them, to how a stadium prepares and deals with more than 70,000 rabid fans, Travel Channel’s cameras are there to capture this massive undertaking.

In addition, viewers will see how the Cleveland Browns prepare each week through the eyes of the players and team management, including new owner Jimmy Haslam.  They can expect to learn more about the history behind deeply-rooted team rivalries and other notable insights not typically covered in game-coverage news.  Episodes will focus around the weeks leading up to games played against the New York Giants, Baltimore Ravens, Dallas Cowboys, Oakland Raiders, Denver Broncos and Pittsburgh Steelers.  The announcement was jointly made today by Andy Singer, General Manager, Travel Channel, and Howard Katz, Chief Operating Officer, NFL Films.

“This series is a first-of-its-kind program providing an exclusive pass to NFL fans during the season.  This is an emotionally-charged world.  Now, viewers will get a never-before-seen opportunity to see what it’s like for players to live on the road, often away from their families.  We’ll hear from the players themselves, coaches and scores of support staff in multiple cities,” said Singer.  “Working with the Emmy award-winning storytellers from NFL Films, ‘NFL Road Tested: The Cleveland Browns’ will take viewers beyond the gridiron and inside the action that happens between games as the storied franchise attempts to return to football greatness.”

“We look forward to working with Travel Channel to bring fans a behind-the-scenes look at the logistical preparations leading into each week’s game,” said Katz.

“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to participate in such an exciting and unique endeavor,” said Browns owner Jimmy Haslam.  “This show will offer viewers a great perspective of the inner-workings of an NFL team and what it takes to support a team.  With Travel Channel working alongside NFL Films and RIVR Media, we expect that this will be first-class production.  We are excited about what this will mean to Northeast Ohio, the Browns and our fans.”

“NFL Road Tested: The Cleveland Browns” is co-produced by NFL Films and RIVR Media for Travel Channel.  For NFL Films, the executive producers are Pat Kelleher and Ross Ketover.  For RIVR Media, the executive producers are Rob Lundgren and Lori Stryer, and supervising producer is J.W. Johnson.  For Travel Channel, the executive producer is Brian Leonard.

TRAVEL CHANNEL (http/::www.travelchannel.com) is a multiplatform travel lifestyle brand with the core mission of providing inspiring and compelling programming that takes viewers beyond their everyday destinations, making the unfamiliar familiar, whether it’s around the world or around the block. A dual feed network that is also available in HD, Travel Channel is the world’s leading travel media brand, and is available in over 94 million U.S. cable homes.  Owned and operated by Scripps Networks Interactive (NYSE: SNI), Travel Channel has offices in Chevy Chase, MD, and New York, NY.  Scripps Networks Interactive (NYSE: SNI) also owns and operates HGTV, DIY Network, Food Network, Cooking Channel and Great American Country.

Since 1965, NFL FILMS has revolutionized the way America watches football and set the standard in sports filmmaking.  Exclusive all-access sound, stunning cinematography, stirring orchestral music and poignant storytelling are the trademarks of NFL Films.  Winner of 107 Emmy® awards, the 47-year-old production division of the National Football League is widely recognized as the most honored filmmaker in sports.

RIVR MEDIA  (http://www.rivr.com/) With a 25-year history that traces back to the early days of cable television, RIVR Media is one of the industry’s veteran producers of cable programming. The company’s work has been seen on 16 networks, including: Discovery, TLC, Animal Planet, Travel Channel, A&E, History, ESPN, MTV, Food Network, HGTV, DIY, and others. Refusing to be pigeonholed, RIVR has achieved success in a wide variety of genres including reality, documentary, how-to, travel, sports entertainment and lifestyle.

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NFL Network’s ‘A Football Life’ Examines Los Angeles Rams’ ‘Fearsome Foursome’ Wednesday. October 10 at 8:00 PM ET

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The Most Dominant Defensive Line in NFL History Profiled on Wednesday, October 10 at 8:00 PM ET

Narrated by Jennifer Allen, Daughter of Former Rams Head Coach George Allen

“We were perfect together. A perfect marriage.” – Deacon Jones

In the mid-1960s, the Los Angeles Rams were anchored by “the Fearsome Foursome,” the most feared and famous defensive line in NFL history. On the football field, Deacon Jones, Merlin Olsen, Rosey Grier and Lamar Lundy were an unstoppable force, terrorizing opposing quarterbacks and offenses. Yet it was the unbreakable bond off the field that connected the four men long after their playing careers were over.

NFL Network’s Emmy-nominated series A Football Life continues Wednesday, October 10 at 8:00 PM ET with a look at the life and times of the Los Angeles Rams’ stout defensive line, collectively known as “the Fearsome Foursome.”

Jennifer Allen, the daughter of former Los Angeles Rams head coach George Allen, narrates the one-hour documentary and conducts interviews with Jones, Grier and family members of all four men.

Together on the football field, the Fearsome Foursome achieved tremendous success and acclaim, developing a reputation withstanding the test of time. However, their playing careers were simply springboards for their lives off the field as musicians, actors, businessmen, philanthropists and much more.

In addition to interviews with those who knew them the best, The Fearsome Foursome: A Football Life includes video of past interviews with each player and from their practices, games and various speaking events. Also, NFL Films captured Jones’ jersey retirement ceremony with the Rams in 2009, and Grier attending the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver.

The Fearsome Foursome: A Football Life includes interviews with the following people:

Deacon Jones – Hall of Fame Los Angeles Rams defensive end

Rosey Grier – Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle

Dick Enberg – Los Angeles Rams broadcaster, 1966-77

Elizabeth Jones – Deacon Jones’ wife

Bruce Allen – George Allen’s son

Susan Olsen – Merlin Olsen’s wife

Phil Olsen – Merlin Olsen’s brother

Jill Olsen – Merlin Olsen’s daughter

Nathan Olsen – Merlin Olsen’s son

Kelly Olsen – Merlin Olsen’s daughter

Dick Vermeil – Former NFL head coach

Lamar Lundy III – Lamar Lundy’s son

Roger Brown – Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle, 1967-69

For the first look at The Fearsome Foursome: A Football Life, visit:

http://nflfilms.nfl.com/2012/10/04/first-look-at-fearsome-foursome-a-football-life/

Following are select quotes from The Fearsome Foursome: A Football Life:

– “We were perfect together. A perfect marriage.” – Deacon Jones

– “[George Allen] let us run free. He wanted us to rush the passer, [put] pressure on the quarterback; ‘heat’ they called it. We gave him heat every down.” – Deacon Jones

– “As you called the game, it became part of the excitement when the defense went on the field.” – Dick Enberg

 

– “I got to feel [like] being inside Disneyland. These were bigger than life characters.” – Bruce Allen

– “What I saw was an opportunity to have a team like we had in New York…I believed that with these guys, with the height they had and the speed we had, we were going to be devastating out on the football field.” – Rosey Grier

 

– “[Deacon Jones] was absolutely fascinating to watch play the game…I didn’t know it was possible for a guy to do what he could do.” – Dick Vermeil

– “The love – genuine love – between the four of them is something extraordinary to see.” – Elizabeth Jones

Below is the remaining broadcast schedule for A Football Life, airing on Wednesday nights at 8:00 PM ET:

  • October 17 – Steve McNair
  • October 24 – Eddie DeBartolo
  • October 31 – Chris Spielman
  • November 7 – Jimmy Johnson
  • November 21 – John Riggins
  • December 5 – Barry Sanders
  • December 12 – Marcus Allen
  • December 19 – The Immaculate Reception

Airing throughout the NFL season, A Football Life examines the iconic individuals and subjects that have had an undeniable and profound impact on the history of the National Football League, offering an inside look into their untold stories.

Every episode of A Football Life and all NFL Network programming is streamed live on NFL Mobile from Verizon, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

NFL Network airs seven days a week, 24 hours a day on a year-round basis and is the only television network fully dedicated to the NFL and the sport of football.  For more information, log on to www.nfl.com/nflnetwork.  NFL.com is the exclusive internet home of NFL Network.

– NFL MEDIA –

Two-Time Super Bowl-Winning Head Coach Tom Coughlin Profiled on NFL Network’s ‘A Football Life’ Wednesday, September 26 at 8:00 PM ET

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TWO-TIME SUPER BOWL-WINNING HEAD COACH TOM COUGHLIN PROFILED ON NFL NETWORK’S A FOOTBALL LIFE

NFL Films-Produced Series Continues Wednesday, September 26 at 8:00 PM ET

“When people are sick or in need, that’s when his emotions, his faith, his strength shows the most.” – Judy Coughlin

NFL Network’s Emmy-nominated series A Football Life continues with a profile of two-time Super Bowl-winning head coach of the New York Giants, Tom Coughlin. Premiering Wednesday, September 26 at 8:00 PM ET, Tom Coughlin: A Football Life explores the fiery and detail-oriented head coach on the field, and the compassionate, caring husband, father, grandfather and friend away from the game.

The one-hour episode chronicles Coughlin’s career as a football coach, beginning with the time he spent as head coach at the Division-III Rochester Institute of Technology, to the various positions held with Boston College, the Philadelphia Eagles, the Green Bay Packers, and as the first head coach in Jacksonville Jaguars franchise history.

Coughlin’s off-field life is also detailed, highlighting his relationship with his wife of more than 45 years Judy Coughlin, time spent with his four children and 11 grandchildren, and the incredible impact he has had on his former players and peers.

The episode also explores Coughlin’s relationship with the New York media and his devotion to his charity, The Jay Fund, which he started following the death of his former player Jay McGillis at Boston College and benefits families whose children have been diagnosed with leukemia.

Emmy-nominated actor from CBS’ The Good Wife, Josh Charles, narrates.

Tom Coughlin’s football life story is told through interviews with Coughlin and individuals close to him, including:

Judy Coughlin – Tom’s wife

Kate Snee – Tom’s daughter

Bill Parcells – Former New York Giants head coach

Michael Strahan – Former New York Giants defensive end

Jim Boeheim – Syracuse University men’s basketball coach

Larry Csonka – Hall of Fame running back

Fred Taylor – Former Jacksonville Jaguars running back

Ernie Accorsi – Former New York Giants general manager

Doug Flutie – Played for Tom Coughlin at Boston College, 1981-83

To view the trailer, visit:

http://nflfilms.nfl.com/2012/09/20/first-look-at-a-football-life-tom-coughlin/

Following are select quotes from Tom Coughlin: A Football Life:

– “When people are sick or in need, that’s when his emotions, his faith, his strength shows the most.” – Judy Coughlin

– “I’ve gone from a guy who wouldn’t play for him for one year, to a guy who wouldn’t play for anybody else if I had to go back and play football. He wants to win. That’s his bottom line, and he’s had to change his methods to get there. I’m glad he changed it, that we were able to get to the mountaintop with him.” – Michael Strahan

– “When you win in New York, it’s something special and the people never forget you.” – Bill Parcells

– “At Syracuse, he kept notes on everything. [He is the] first person I ever saw in athletics that kept notes on everything. A few years later after I left Tommy’s presence, I met a guy that was just like that. His name was [Don] Shula.” – Larry Csonka

– “I could be rude [with the media]. I could pull some of the [Bill] Parcells stuff, but I couldn’t get away with it. I wasn’t Parcells. They make light of it, but they’re not making light of it with me.” – Tom Coughlin on his relationship with the New York media early in his Giants head coaching tenure

– “When John Madden calls you, it brings it right to mind again that that’s really what football is: it’s sport. What is sport all about? We’re trying to win. That’s what this league is about, is competitive greatness and always putting your best foot forward.” – Coughlin

Below is the September and October broadcast schedule for A Football Life, airing on Wednesday nights at 8:00 PM ET:

  • October 3 – Cleveland ‘95
  • October 10 – Fearsome Foursome
  • October 17 – Steve McNair
  • October 24 – Eddie DeBartolo
  • October 31 – Chris Spielman

Airing throughout the NFL season, A Football Life examines the iconic individuals and subjects that have had an undeniable and profound impact on the history of the National Football League, offering an inside look into their untold stories.

Every episode of A Football Life and all NFL Network programming is streamed live on NFL Mobile from Verizon, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

NFL Network airs seven days a week, 24 hours a day on a year-round basis and is the only television network fully dedicated to the NFL and the sport of football.  For more information, log on to www.nfl.com/nflnetwork.  NFL.com is the exclusive internet home of NFL Network.

– NFL MEDIA –

Steve Sabol Feature on NFL Network’s ‘NFL GameDay Morning’ This Sunday at 9:00 AM ET

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This Sunday, a feature on Steve Sabol that will air on NFL Network’s NFL GameDay Morning. NFL Network conducted new interviews with New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, former head coach Bill Parcells and director Peter Berg to discuss the impact Steve had on football and Hollywood. All of these interviews were conducted yesterday and today.

Brady, Belichick and Parcells were selected for this feature because Steve’s final interview was with Tom Brady; Steve personally got Bill Belichick to wear a wire for an entire season for A Football Life; Bill Parcells and Steve had a long relationship with dating back to their college days when they played each other in football. Peter Berg  reflects on a fellow director, filmmaker, and storyteller.

The music and footage in the piece will be from NFL Films, a tribute to the institution Steve helped create.