NFL Films President Steve Sabol Dies At 69

Steve Sabol, the creative visionary behind NFL Films, which was founded by his father, Ed Sabol, 96, died in Moorestown, New Jersey, on Tuesday at the age of 69 after an 18-month battle with inoperable brain cancer.

Sabol, a former football player who produced, wrote, directed, and filmed the NFL Films productions, was famous for his style of concepting and shooting the images that have since become synonymous with the game of football, revolutionizing the way viewers watched the game.

He could make a 49-14 football game "seem like some kind of epic Greek tragedy," said ESPN sportscaster Chris Berman, reports the New York Times, while former Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens owner Art Modell (who himself passed away on September 6), credited Sabol with having "sold the beauty of the game."

Ed Sabol founded NFL Films in 1962, and Steve came on board in the capacity of cameraman, editor and writer. Later he advanced to creative director of the company.

"I may have started it, but he has been the engineer behind it," Ed said in a 2008 interview of his son. "He comes up with these great ideas and is a great student of the game."

Sabol is survived by his father, his mother Audrey Sabol, his wife, Penny, his sister, Blair, and his son, Casey. He won a Lifetime Achievement Emmy in 2003.

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