My 10 favorite NFl Films Videos

For years, NFL Films has made some of the best highlight movies and videos of all time. Starting in 1962 the company has covered pro football for close to 50 years.

As a fan who sometimes would watch an NFL Films documentary instead of a game being played at the same time here are my 10 favorites of all time. No football follies included:

10. Big Game America (1969)

This was the NFL Films documentary which chronicled the league's first 50 years. Believe it or not, I remember watching it for the first time when I was around three years old. The program was sponsored by Burlington and DuPont paints, I think.

The first half hour covers the history of the NFL. The second half has segments where Dallas Cowboy quarterback Don Meredith and Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jim Marshall are interviewed.

9. Super Bowl V Baltimore Colts vs Dallas Cowboys (1971)

This is a work of art as NFL Films took one of the worst games ever played and made it much more dramatic than it was. The key element to the film is how they captured the desperation of the two team. The Colts were trying to atone for losing Super Bowl III to the New York Jets and the Cowboys were trying to rid themselves of the label 'Next years champions,' The hitting is just brutal.

8. Super Bowl XIV Los Angles Rams vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (1980)

This is the best of the Super Bowl films. The cinematography and music blend perfectly along with John Facenda's voice. Super Bowl XIV is an underrated game as it was one of the first to actually come down to the final few minutes. NFL Films hit the mark on this one.

7. The Super '70's (1980)

The '70's may very well be the greatest decade in NFL history. There were great teams, players and coaches. It was the first decade after the AFL-NFL merger and the league's popularity skyrocketed. This video captures everything from the undefeated '72 Dolphins, to O.J. Simpson's 2,000 yard season to the Pittsburgh Steelers four Super Bowl titles.

6. Their Deeds and Dogged Faith (1977)

This is a documentary about three players and a coach who are in the hall of fame. Hugh MclHenney, Y.A. Tittle, Gale Sayers and George Halas. The segments on Tittle and Sayers are just great.

5. Super Memories of the Super Bowl (1979)

This one was remade four times, but the original is the best and hard to find. It covers the growth of the Super Bowl along with other segments like the '72 Dolphins, Super Bowl MVP's and the Minnesota Vikings failures in the big game. Of course there is Chiefs Head Coach Hank Stram and '65 toss power trap.'

4. NFL '68 (1969)

The highlight film for the 1968 NFL season is 30 minutes of great work. It is the first season highlight film that John Facenda narrated and one of his best. There is a lot of rare NFL Films music in this one. There is not a lot of glitz and glamour, just football filmed well.

3. NFL Best Ever 'The Professionals' (1981)

A documentary based on players and a coach who gave everything they had to the game. Featured are Marshall, Washington Redskin running back Larry Brown and his teammate quarterback Billy Kilmer, Chicago Bears linebacker Dick Butkus Oakland Raiders quarterback Jim Plunkett and former Philadelphia Eagles coach Dick Vermeil. This is a good change of pace from the the rest of the 'Best Ever' series.

2. The Sensational Sixties (1970)

NFL Films did another one hour version with this title in the 1990's which is okay. But the original done in 1970 is better. It is typical NFL Films of the time with all football and no fat. The best segments are the ones with Gale Sayers and a chronicle of NFL championship games from 1960 to Super Bowl IV. It is strictly NFL, no AFL, which may be why NFL Films remade it. This video is very hard to find. Good luck.

1. The Championship Chase (1974)

The one hour highlight film covering the 1974 season up to the championship games. I first saw it when I was seven. I had to wait 30 years to get a copy of it, but it was worth it. Though some don't like the poetry I do. The part on Patriots running back Mack Herron may be a stretch, but for the most part Facenda pulls it off. No one else probably could have. This is the film that first showed Buffalo Bills head coach Lou Saban's, 'you gotta get it done,' pregame speech.

Picking these 10 were easy for me. There may be others that people think are better, but these are my favorites.

If you notice all of them were done before 1983 when Facenda died. That's because NFL Films just hasn't been the same without him.