Pro football Hall honors Facenda with Rozelle TV-radio award

CANTON, Ohio (AP) — The late John Facenda, a longtime narrator of NFL highlights whose voice became synonymous with the league, has won the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 2021 Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award.

Facenda was a television news anchor in Philadelphia when NFL Films creator Ed Sabol heard his distinct voice describing some highlights in 1965. Sabol invited Facenda to read scripts, leading to a job Facenda held for 19 years until his death in 1984 at 71.

“For nearly 20 years, John Facenda’s resonant voice was, and even today still is, synonymous with the power, strength and character of the NFL,” said Hall of Fame president David Baker, who made the announcement Monday.

The Hall of Fame presents the Rozelle award annually in recognition of longtime exceptional contributions to radio and television in pro football.

Facenda narrated numerous films and weekly highlights packages, contributing to the growth in interest surrounding pro football. His speaking style earned him the nickname “The Voice of God” and contributed to the expansion of NFL Films.

Sabol, the 1991 Rozelle award winner, made the Hall of Fame in 2011. His son, Steve Sabol, will be part of the celebration for Facenda as a member of the centennial class of 2020.

Jack Facenda will accept the Rozelle award on his dad’s behalf Aug. 6 during enshrinement weekend.

Facenda’s career started in radio in Philadelphia before he debuted as an anchor in 1952. Facenda was one of the creators of the TV news format still used today, with separate segments for news, sports and weather.

———

More AP NFL coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP—NFL

SportsPlus

Local News

Anderson blanks Sooners as LSU wins series opener

McNeese Sports

Copeland enters portal

Jim Gazzolo

Jim Gazzolo column: Untimely leak sinks win-win scenario

McNeese Sports

Cowgirls head to Lions’ den

McNeese Sports

Cowboys back in SLC play

Business

Global Meetings Industry Day highlights $30M impact tourism has in LC

Crime

4/3: Calcasieu Parish Sheriff announces arrest list

life

Oh, sister! LCLT spills the tea in comedy-drama ‘Crimes of the Heart’

Business

Dow drops 1,500 as US stock market leads a worldwide sell-off following Trump’s tariff shock

life

Riding the rails to the Louisiana Railroad Days Festival

Local News

Houston man killed in I-10 crash

McNeese Sports

Cole signs with McNeese

life

ROADWORK: Upcoming road closures across the region

Crime

4/2: Calcasieu Parish Sheriff announces arrest list

life

Summer, fall registration opens at McNeese on Monday

Local News

Louisiana state agencies hit hard by federal cuts

McNeese Sports

Patience pays off

Crime

Second arrest made in death of man found shot inside wrecked vehicle

Local News

Landry orders state hiring freeze, says will save Louisiana $20M annually

Local News

Arkansas decision likely means Louisiana’s age verification law is endangered

Local News

Sowela, Citadel Completions unite for aviation maintenance internship program

Jim Beam

Jim Beam column:Louisiana isn’t failure state

Crime

Jennings man gets 20 years for fatal shooting at convenience store

McNeese Sports

LSU scores late to rout McNeese