Premium network EPIX today announced the return of the franchise NFL Icons, celebrating the biggest names in the history of professional football, from the award-winning filmmakers at NFL Films. Season Two of the eight-episode docuseries premieres Saturday, September 10 @ 10PM EDT/PDT with an hour-long biography of NFL coaching and broadcasting legend John Madden. Subsequent episodes will debut Saturdays @ 10PM on EPIX and stream on the EPIX app. Each episode focuses on a single subject, whose unique impact on the game and the league is explored through a deep dive into the NFL Films archives, coupled with exclusive interviews.
Each episode focuses on a single subject, whose unique impact on the game and the league is explored through a deep dive into the NFL Films archives, coupled with exclusive interviews.
Narrated by award-winning broadcaster Rich Eisen, the engaging series pulls from decades of interviews, highlights, mic’d-up sound, and never-before-seen off-the-field moments. In addition to Madden, the football greats who will be featured in Season Two of NFL Icons are NFL Hall of Famers Walter Payton (September 17), Jimmy Johnson (September 24), Steve Young (October 1), Ray Lewis (October 8), Troy Aikman (October 15), Cris Carter (October 22), and Tony Dungy (October 29). Each episode will provide fresh insight and perspective on their careers and unique backstories in a stylized NFL Films presentation.
“We are thrilled to present Season Two of NFL Icons on EPIX,” said Michael Wright, president of EPIX. “Our partners at NFL Films are accomplished storytellers, with unprecedented access and insight into their uniquely American subject. The NFL Icons franchise, narrated by the incomparable Rich Eisen, is a celebration of those players and coaches who have helped define what is best about the league. NFL ICONS is a great addition to EPIX’s growing list of acclaimed and entertaining docuseries.”
Executive producers of NFL Icons are Ross Ketover, Patrick Kelleher, Brian Rolapp, Hans Schroeder, Michael Wright, and Rachel Brill. Ken Rodgers is the senior coordinating producer and Paul Camarata is the series producer.
Episode 201 – “NFL Icons: John Madden” – debuts September 10.
Arguably the greatest icon in football history, Madden’s rare combination of charisma, vision, and leadership made generations of fans fall in love with the game. See how his love of Vince Lombardi set his path to coaching, where he shaped the identity of the legendary Oakland Raiders and follow his climb to a Super Bowl title, growth as the voice of pro football on television, influence through video games, and enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame – all of which Madden attributed to his vocation as a teacher.
Episode 202 – “NFL Icons: Walter Payton” debuts September 17.
The story of the legendary Chicago Bears running back who won a Super Bowl and became the NFL’s all-time rushing leader, as told through archives and new interviews with his children Brittney and Jarrett. The challenges of Payton’s rise from a small-town Mississippi childhood to global stardom in sports and pop culture. His extraordinary “Flu Game,” hill-running, fashion sense, and untimely death at age 45 from a rare disease are covered in depth, along with his legacy through the prestigious awards named in his honor.
Episode 203 – “NFL Icons: Jimmy Johnson” debuts September 24
No coach ever got more out of people than Jimmy Johnson. Harnessing what he learned as an undergraduate psychology major, Johnson won a National Championship as a player at Arkansas and head coach of the Miami Hurricanes, followed by two Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys. The film explores how he changed history through the milestone Herschel Walker trade, about his unique collaboration with Hall of Fame owner Jerry Jones, and how Johnson’s famed Five-Year Plan helped him find work-life balance.
About NFL Films
Winner of 136 Sports Emmy(R) Awards, NFL Films remains a gold standard in sports television, providing unprecedented access to and legendary storytelling about the sport of professional football. NFL Films is a part of NFL Media, the owned and operated media division of the National Football League, which is comprised of NFL Network, NFL Films, the NFL App, NFL.com, NFL+, NFL RedZone, and the streaming service, the NFL Channel.
About Rich Eisen
Emmy-nominated host, Rich Eisen is the host of The Rich Eisen Show, airing weekdays on Peacock TV from noon- 3PM ET and simulcast on SiriusXM (ch. 211) and Westwood One. This summer, Eisen hosted Tokyo Gold for Peacock TV, recapping the biggest stories and highlights from the Olympics. In addition, hosting Westwood One’s weekly Monday Night Football pregame and halftime show, he continues to be the signature host of the NFL Network, where he was hired as network’s first on-air talent in the summer of 2003. Prior to joining NFL Network, Eisen spent 8years at ESPN as one of the network’s most visible personalities, where he hosted SportsCenter alongside Stuart Scott, as well as a variety of other high-profile assignments.