Gridiron America Radio

"I can say to you sincerely…the best way for you to guarantee the current and future success of the Green Bay Packers is to build a new stadium." - George Halas, Chicago Bears Founder. Legacy: 100 Seasons of the Green Bay Packers tells the remarkable story of the Packers, from the team's humble beginnings to its centennial season.

For those of us over a certain age, who have loved professional football, be it in Canada or America, we have come to it through two primary means- books and film. For those of who truly love books we have gained a deeper understanding of the game through the words and literary artistry of writers like Chris Willis, who is the resident historian at NFL Films, where he  oversees all aspects of research for the company and their producers. In 2002 he was nominated for an Emmy for his work on the HBO documentary- The Game of Their Lives: Pro Football in the 1950's." He is a member of the Professional Football Researchers Association (PFRA) since 1993 and writes for the Pro Football Journal. In addition to his work with NFL Films, he has authored many fine books. His first, Old Leather: An Oral History of Early Pro Football in Ohio, 1920-1935, was published in 2005 by Scarecrow Press. Old Leather was given the 2005 Nelson Ross Award by the Professional Football Researchers Association for recent Achievement in Football Research and Historiography. His second book, The Columbus Panhandles : A Complete History of Pro Football's Toughest Team, 1900-1922, was published in 2007 by Scarecrow Press.  His third book was released in September of 2010, The Man Who Built the National Football League: Joe F. Carr is a biography of the former NFL president from 1921-1939.  His fourth book, Dutch Clark: The Life of an NFL Legend and the Birth of the Detroit Lions, is about the man who played seven seasons in the NFL and was the first big star for the Lions. His fifth book, A Nearly Perfect Season: The Inside Story of the 1984 San Francisco 49ers, and contains over 30 interviews from that team that went 18-1 and won Super Bowl XIX and is considered one of the NFL's greatest teams.  In 2017, he wrote Walter Lingo, Jim Thorpe and the Oorang Indians, another story about the early days of the NFL, and in 2019 he completed his full-scale biography, Red Grange- the Galloping Ghost, which was published in conjunction with the NFL's 100th season. Currently Chris is working on a biography of Bronko Nagurski, former Chicago Bears Hall of Fame fullback, which is scheduled to be published in August of 2022. In this episode, Chris joins the show to talk about his career as an author and as part of the team of creative geniuses at NFL Films. He tells us about his approach to his writing and research, how many of his books came to be, and he also shares with us personal stories of the man your hosts and guest continue to idolize and be inspired by- Steve Sabol.

"You have to give credit to Lambeau, to the people running the ball club…and of course, the fans!" - Charley Brock. Legacy: 100 Seasons of the Green Bay Packers tells the remarkable story of the Packers, from the team's humble beginnings to its centennial season.

"I was intrigued that a little town like Green Bay could play in the National Football League and hold their own." - Clark Hinkle Legacy: 100 Seasons of the Green Bay Packers tells the remarkable story of the Packers, from the team's humble beginnings to its centennial season.

"The Packers' improbable, unprecedented success is living proof that truth is stranger than fiction." - David Maraniss Legacy: 100 Seasons of the Green Bay Packers tells the remarkable story of the Packers, from the team's humble beginnings to its centennial season.

As the 2021 CFL season approaches, Dave Naylor of Canada's TSN takes time with us to talk about where the league is headed using history as a guide. In particular we talk in-depth about the American expansion of the 1990s when the CFL first sought to expand its reach south.

Narrated by Jack Fleming. They were the first, those Pittsburgh Steelers, to win three straight Super Bowls with a victory over the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl XIII. Relive the glory that was the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1978 many times over.

Narrated by Jack Fleming. They were perhaps the finest collection of football players ever to grace an NFL gridiron. In the 1970’s the Pittsburgh Steelers, with the fabled “Steel Curtain” defense, a powerful running attack and an electric passing game, rolled to four Super Bowl Championships. The best of the lot had to be the 1975 team that capped off a celebrated season with a thrilling Super Bowl victory over the Dallas Cowboys.

In this episode, Don Charabin from the Third Down Gamble podcast, and Rob Vanstone of the Regina Leader-Post join us and reminisce about growing up in the prairie towns of the province of Saskatchewan where one team symbolizes what makes the Canadian Football League so special. We recall the heroes of the game whom they idolized in the 60s and 70s, and talk about the era when the wheat grew tall and the Chinook wind blew cold, in a community where only two TV channels were on the air, and as a young football fan you got your sports news and box scores from the newspaper.

Narrated by Tom Hedrick. The responsibility of a lifetime was upon their shoulders and they came through. The 1969 Kansas City Chiefs proved that parity in the world of the NFL had arrived with a stunning upsets of the highly touted Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IV. 

Narrated by Ted Moore.  Play-by-play highlights of one of the greatest and certainly most legendary teams in NFL history. The Green Bay Packers of Vince Lombardi capture three straight in NFL championships including the memorable "Ice Bowl" game with the Dallas Cowboys in 1967.

Featuring the exciting play-by-play action of Bill King, highlights and interviews of the Oakland Raiders 1976 World Championship season.

Narrated by Verne Lundquist. The 1977 Dallas Cowboys end the six year run of AFC supremacy with an NFC championship and a Super Bowl victory of the Denver Broncos. They were America's Team in their finest moment.

Narrated by Bob Trumpy. When you hear the name Paul Brown, you automatically think of a legend. Paul took the Cleveland Browns to success and he set out to do the same thing when he started the Cincinnati Bengals in 1968. After back to back four and twelve years, followed by a record of six and ten in 1980, die hard Bengal fans were wondering if this team would never win. Everyone knew the Bengals had talent, lots of talent. Something had to be done about the direction in which the team was taking. When Forest Gregg was hired the first thing he had to straighten out was the attitude of the team. Forest had to convince the players that they could win. It didn't take long. The Cincinnati Bengals made it to Super Bowl XVI just one year after the former Green Bay Great came to the Queen City. From six and ten to the Super Bowl was proof enough that the Bengals Franchise was alive and well. The 1981 season could be termed a "Cinderella" one but that's such an overused term in this instance. Starting wtih the come from behind wins at the beginning of the year to the "November to Remember" to the great playoff wins over Buffalo, then San Diego in the coldest game ever played. This year, 1981, was the year in which the Bengals would savor.. A taste of success. This is the story of the 1981 Cincinnati Bengals, the American Football Conference Champions.

After two decades of being pro football's doormats the Denver Broncos of the "Orange Crush" fame capture their first championship and earn a chance to play in the Super Bowl. Featuring the exciting play-by-play action, highlights, and interviews of the Denver Broncos' 1977 Championship Season!  In 1977, it all came together. The Broncos were the sensation of the NFL, winning twelve of fourteen games. In the playoffs they kept right on going. They won the AFC Championship by knocking off the teams that had won the last three Super Bowls... Pittsburgh and Oakland. The Broncos won the team play. And they made Bronco-mania a national phenomenon. The country turned orange. The Broncos were a team of contrasts... There was a head coach "Red" Miller. For seventeen pro seasons, he had been a successful assistant coach. Then in his first chance as head coach, playing "one game at a time", he took his charges to the Super Bowl. ... There was a quarterback Craig Morton. His addition to the Broncos' roster provided the on-the-field offensive leadership that had been missing. ... There were the remaining members of the offensive unit... a group of multi-talented and dedicated athletes who had the big play ready when it was needed. ... Finally, there was the Orange Crus Defense. Already respected as one of the best in the NFL, they continued to wreak havoc on opposing offenses in 1977. Yes, the 1977 Denver Broncos were a special kind of team. They gave all they had and, as a result, took themselves and their fans to the Super Bowl.