One of the most legendary figures in the NFL died on Tuesday, but he never played on the field. Steve Sabol, the President of NFL Films, died at the age of 69 after a lengthy battle with inoperable brain cancer. This is a very sad day for fans and players alike, as Sabol made football games come alive for those watching on television.
Sabol took over the President title in 1985, passed on by his father Ed Sabol, who started the company. Ed Sabol was recently honored by being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August of last year. It was also last year that Steve was diagnosed with brain cancer, battling it for 18 months before finally succumbing.
Sabol was the person directly in charge of how fans see the game on television, with the medium barely in its infancy when he began. Everything from the instant replays to the graphics has Sabol's mark on it. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell had this to say about Sabol. "Steve was an incredible visionary. He spent 50 years at the NFL and changed the way we see pro football. So when you're watching the games this week, it's worth remembering just how much Steve contributed to the way we think, see, and love our game."
Steve Sabol is survived by his wife and son, Penny and Casey, as well as parents Audrey and Ed, and sister. Unfortunately, brain cancer is still a reality, with no end in sight.
Photo: By Flickr user hyku (Flickr) via Wikimedia Commons
Gabriel Legend covers a wide range of breaking news for Gather. He writes fiction as well, with his first novel coming out in 2013. You can follow on Twitter at @GabrielLegend1 or contact him directly here.
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