Steve Sabol: NFL Films President Dead At 69

Steve Sabol, NFL Films co-founder and president died this morning of brain cancer at the age of 69. Sabol had been receiving treatment ever since doctors have discovered an irremovable tumor shortly after a seizure he had in March of 2011.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell released a statement on Sabol's death saying, "Steve's passion for football was matched by his incredible talent and energy. Steve's legacy will be part of the NFL forever. He was a major contributor to the success of the NFL, a man who changed the way we look at football and sports, and a great friend."

In 1964, Sabol cofounded NFL films alongside his father, which changed the dynamics of how fans watched football games with Player sound bites, music, and dramatic montages. Under Sabol's developments, NFL Films went to produce numerous iconic shows such as, "Hard Knocks," "NFL Films Presents," and "Football Follies."

His father, Ed Sabol was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011, and both men received an Achievement Emmy from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in 2003. In his life, Sabol had received 35 Emmy's for writing, editing, cinematography, directing, and producing. In addition, has been the only person to earn that many awards in different categories at the Emmy's.

Last year, Sabol told The Associated Press, "We see the game as art as much as sport. That helped us nurture not only the game's traditions but to develop its mythology: America's Team, The Catch, The Frozen Tundra."

Even though, Sabol's, filming techniques are taken for granted, they were once abnormal to fans in the 60's that weren't used to the radical techniques. He told AP, "Believe me, it wasn't always easy getting people to accept them, but I think it was worth the effort."