NFL TV themes: The evolution of musical drama
In the history of the NFL on TV, one thing that’s helped set the tone for each broadcast is the opening theme. You know that one thing opening music before Jim Nantz and Phil Simms make you push the mute button. (SN: Love ya Phil and Jim, just kidding guys)
The themes, if good enough can be iconic and used for generations and live on the in YouTube Universe.
So, how did we get to the intense ass-kicking music we hear every Sunday during the fall.
Well, it’s in the beginning, God created football and he put it on TV. Then he gave us themes to go with that football.
NFL on CBS (1969)
This theme is one of the earliest that featured the “old” NFL, you know before the merger of 1970. It’s a bit marching band-ish but still displays the grit of the old NFL.
NFL on NBC (1968)
Imagine, January 1968. Miami, Florida and Super Bowl III. Joe Namath guarantees victory over the Baltimore Colts in one of the more iconic games in NFL history and the lead in to this monumental game is a….show tune? I mean come on, this sounds like a game show theme doesn’t it!
Monday Night Football (1970)
Howard, Dandy Don and Keith Jackson, yes that Keith Jackson.
Those early days of Monday Night Football, back when you could get drunk in the announcer booth (Yes, this did happen). Still, everybody thinks about the iconic MNF theme that’s been done and remastered over a thousand times but not many people know there was an different theme before and it had more of a night at the lounge feel than an actual football game.
NFL on NBC (1973)
While they were considered the junior circuit, the AFC’s TV deal gave us this iconic theme for games at the Orange Bowl, Three Rivers Stadium and Oakland Coliseum. This theme was the intro to games such as the “Sea of Hands” game and those classic Raiders-Steelers affairs.
Monday Night Football (1975)
Do I even need to go any further? You know it. Now press play and hum along!
NFL Today (1976)
The first great pregame show. For years, the NFL’s pregame was just a bunch of highlights from NFL Films regarding the two teams playing in that afternoon’s games. Now, you had a host, an analyst, a pretty anchor and a “prognosticator.” It was perfect, the NFL Today from the 70’s and 80’s is still the model broadcast for a pregame show.
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