Longtime ESPN broadcaster Chris Berman is among several notable sports media figures who are candidates for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The Hall announced a list of 25 candidates Wednesday, narrowed from a list of 47 initial nominees in the “Contributor” category. The most notable media figure for today’s generation of fans is Berman, whose colorful player nicknames and exuberant calls have been a staple of ESPN shows such as SportsCenter, Sunday NFL Countdown, and NFL Primetime for decades.
He did…go…all…the…way.
And for the next hour, we pay tribute. The Chris Berman special begins now on the network he helped build. pic.twitter.com/I4XYnaV98u
— ESPN (@espn) February 3, 2017
Other candidates, whose names might not be as recognizable to fans today, had a profound influence on the NFL. Roone Arledge, longtime president of ABC Sports, created Monday Night Football in 1970 and influenced the way networks covered the sport, introducing fan shots and other elements beyond just the action on the field.
John Facenda, who narrated highlight videos for NFL Films from 1965 until he died in 1984, also made the list. Even if you don’t recognize his name, Facenda’s dramatic narration of highlights during that generation earned him the nickname “The Voice of God” long before James Earl Jones or Morgan Freeman came along to challenge for that title.
So happy John Facenda made today’s @ProFootballHOF finalists list. “The Voice of God” deserves to be in Canton. He helped create a lore and mystique that cannot be duplicated. 🎞️: @KevG163 pic.twitter.com/w330v2ibyg
— Damon Amendolara (@DamonAmendo) October 16, 2024
Other Contributor candidates include:
• Howard Cosell, the colorful and controversial announcer who served as a commentator in the Monday Night Football booth from 1970 through 1983.
• Lee Remmel, who worked for 29 years as a sportswriter and columnist for the Green Bay Press-Gazette before joining the Green Bay Packers as director of public relations from 1974-2004 and serving as team historian from 2004-07.
• Seymour Siwoff, the owner and president of Elias Sports Bureau, which served as the official statistician of the NFL from 1952-2019.
The next cut will reduce the possible candidates to nine, ultimately leading to one finalist who can be in the new class.
