Steve Seidman
Production
Biography
Steve Seidman is an Emmy Award–winning producer, writer, and director whose nearly four‑decade career at NFL Films helped define the visual and narrative language of modern sports storytelling. Joining the company in 1979, Seidman quickly became one of its most versatile creative forces, contributing to hundreds of films and shaping the signature blend of drama, mythmaking, and cinematic craft that has become synonymous with the NFL Films brand. Over 38 years, he served as a film editor, scriptwriter, location director, and ultimately Senior Producer, working on flagship series such as America’s Game, Inside the NFL, NFL Films Presents, and They Call It Pro Football. His work earned multiple Sports Emmy Awards, including honors for his contributions to Inside the NFL. Seidman’s storytelling range is evident in productions like NFL Follies Go Hollywood (1983), Strange But True Football Stories (1987), and the acclaimed documentary Unitas (1999), which remains one of the most celebrated portraits of quarterback Johnny Unitas. He also produced annual highlight films for the Indianapolis Colts throughout the 1980s and 1990s, and contributed essays under the byline “The Vault Keeper” for NFL Films’ “Tales From the Vault” series. Before entering sports media, Seidman built a strong academic foundation in film history and criticism. He earned his M.A. from Northwestern University and a Ph.D. in Motion Pictures and Television History from UCLA, where he also published scholarly work including Comedian Comedy: A Tradition in Hollywood Film. His deep knowledge of film aesthetics—ranging from classical Hollywood to avant‑garde theory—shaped his approach to sports filmmaking, which he has described as “more impressionistic than journalistic,” emphasizing emotion, structure, and cinematic rhythm over strict chronology. Beyond NFL Films, Seidman taught film courses at Drexel University and La Salle University, covering subjects such as Hitchcock, film noir, comedy, and horror. His career reflects a rare fusion of academic rigor, creative experimentation, and a lifelong commitment to elevating sports into art.
Known For
Full Color Football celebrates the 50th season of the maverick American Football League, from its tumultuous beginnings to its unlikely merger with the rival NFL.
Full Color Football: The History of the American Football League
Forty-two, hard-hitting minutes of the NFL's outstanding defenders, past and present, who have elevated the art of punishing ball carriers into a science
Crunch Course
Travel off the beaten path with Vincent Price as he unearths the strange plays and bizarre players who have inhabited the NFL for the past half century. Step right up and see for yourself the one-eyed quarterback who led the NFL in passing one year. Meet the player whose diet consisted of blood and raw meat. See weird team rituals. The strangest games. Discover the fattest achievers who ever played. And relive such out-of-this-world plays as "the Holy Roller," "The Immaculate Reception" and "The Miracle of the Meadowlands."
Strange But True Football Stories
Few had heard of Bill Walsh when he was hired as head coach of the San Francisco 49ers in 1979. Within three seasons, he created a world champion -- within six, he had created a dynasty. In this program, NFL Films goes inside the 49ers dynasty, detailing the system, the players, and the mindset that created the powerhouse 49ers teams of the 1980s.
The San Francisco 49ers Team of the '80s
Extreme Moments, Extreme Intensity, Extreme Quarterback, Extreme Closeup, Extreme Courage, Extreme Weather, Extreme Language, Extreme Steps, Extreme Fans, Extreme Coaches
NFL Extreme
Relive the extraordinary 2003 season culminating with the Patriots stunning 32-29 victory over the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl XXXVIII on February 1 in Houston. Relive all the unforgettable moments of this dynamic team with the drama of the 2003 Patriots run to Glory! Watch every play from each postseason game.
3 Games to Glory II
"Pro Football's Longest Day" is a film documenting the 1962 NFL Championship game between the Green Bay Packers and the New York Giants. It was a landmark production for NFL Films, marking their first paid venture and showcasing their innovative approach to sports filmmaking. The film, lauded by NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle, significantly impacted how sports were presented on film and television.