There aren’t many people that I think have done more for the NFL or done more for football than Steve has. He was a great friend. I’d say my favorite memories of Steve are going to owners’ meetings and just sitting around talking. Steve was a great storyteller, both on film and in person. He had a great appreciation for the game, the history of the game, the people and the past really, as well as the present. But he had a great memory, great experiences in the past. I just loved to talk to him, just talking about football. He was really special. I think it’s hard these days to find somebody like Steve that was never about him, it was always about the game, it was about the entertainment. All the things he did, I don’t think he ever made anybody look bad. That wasn’t the point, even though we all had some bad moments, we had fumbles and whatever but you were sort of able to laugh at yourself the way he presented it. It seemed like every time he did something, you walked out of there with either a smile on your face or a great appreciation for what he showed and his ability to show a close, unique look at the game until so many of us never saw until he presented it, or the way he presented it. I’ll miss Steve, he’s really special. The job he’s done for NFL Films, the recognition he’s gotten he certainly deserves; a really special guy.
Bill Belichick on Steve Sabol
