Legend is a word that far too often gets tossed around irresponsibly in today's world. It seems once somebody splashes on to the scene, legend status is way too close for comfort.
Today, the NFL lost a true legend in Ed Sabol as he has passed away at the age of 98, the NFL has sadly reported.
"Through his determination and innovative spirit, Ed Sabol transformed how America watched football and all sports," NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said Monday. "Ed ignited the fire at NFL Films and was the Keeper of the Flame with a remarkable vision and dedication to telling the stories of the people who played, coached and loved the game."
He did exactly that.
Sabol introduced the NFL to his lowly film company, titled Blair Motion Pictures, back in 1962 after he shot the NFL Championship game between the Green Bay Packers and the New York Giants. His work in that game convinced the NFL that they needed a motion pictures company to capture the sights and sounds of this violent yet beautiful game.
The music that was produced on NFL Films remains some of the best football sounds in history:
Blair Motion Pictures was renamed NFL Films after Sabol received exclusive rights to shoot NFL games.
With his Sabol's help, the NFL passed College Football, Major League Baseball and Boxing in popularity over the next couple of decades. NFL Films has won 52 Emmy Awards for their work, notes CBS Sports.
Sabol considered himself a filmmaker. With those talents came the honor of being inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 2011 with his son Steve, who also worked for the company, by his side.
Shortly after induction Steve passed away due to a fight against cancer.
Although Ed is now gone, NFL Films will forever remain one entrenched in the league both Sabol men loved so much.