Steve Sabol of NFL Films Dies at 69

Sports | admin | September 19, 2012 at 9:01 pm

Steve Sabol of NFL Films Dies at 69: The creative genius behind the NFL Films banner, Steve Sabol died just a few days short of his 70^th birthday. The American film maker was battling brain cancer for the past eighteen months. He was, according to many critics, the ultimate union between dramatic film-making and football.

Steve Sabol was not only the President of NFL Films, but also a co founder of the company. As a visual artist, Sabol was widely exhibited and celebrated. He was an inspiration to many – he changed the way America watches football on their screens. He set high standards for sports’ film making and made it look more like an art.

For his contributions to sports film making, Steve Sabol was given the Lifetime Achievement Emmy by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. He was given this honor for revolutionizing the trend of watching football at American homes.

Apart from the Lifetime Achievement honor, Sabol has also earned a total of 35 Emmy Awards. These include honors for cinematography, editing, writing, producing and directing. Steve Sabol still remains one of the rarest celebrities to win so many awards for such diverse categories. His company NFL Films has alone won more than 100 Emmy Awards.

In March 2012, Sabol earned the “Champions – Pioneers & Innovators in Sports Business” award from the Sports Business Journal. His company NFL Films was the pioneer in wiring coaches and players for sound, and in using montage editing and slow motion for football broadcast.

He was born as Stephen Douglas Sabol on October 2, 1942 in Moorestown, New Jersey – the city also became his death place. He was the co founder of NFL Films with his father Ed Sabol, who is also a renowned name in football film making.

Steve is survived by his father, who celebrated his 96^th birthday only last week. Steve Sabol was married twice and has one son, Casey Sabol.