NFL Team Yearbooks: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

[ShinobiMusashi]

These are always so hit and miss but I still love watching them and collecting them. Proud to say I have a full 1992 set of every team's highlight film. Along with hundred of others from the old AFL days until 2009 Vikings. I hate that my favorite team the Houston Texans' ones are so hard to find. But I have damn near a full set for the Oilers, missing maybe 4 or 5.

So what were your favorite episodes? Any particular year where the show just felt better or worse overall? I've been watching the 1993 ones that are on Youtube and they seem really deep and well made. The Falcons 93 film that previewed their upcoming 94 season had interesting segment with June Jones saying they felt like Jeff George was better option than any QB coming up in the draft. For how it turned out they should have just taken Charley Ward lol.

But I'd like to have this thread as an ongoing place to post about oddball things I spot as I watch through these. Feel free to post about your favorites or least favorites or anything in general. I know a majority of these episodes are just fluff pieces almost to the point of being propaganda to aid in ticket sales for the upcoming season. But every once in a while you catch one that is solid gold.

I'd say one of the best ever made is the 1975 Oilers film, captured a really fantastic season in Houston, Billy White Shoes highlights and Bum's first season all done in a country themed film that perfectly captures NFL Films charm.

[ShinobiMusashi]

The Raiders ones feel self made and extra propaganda-ey, always different from the others from any particular season, extra ego.

[Brian wolf]

Owners usually have the final say on films and George Halas was known to complain about some of the shady fans captured at games by NFL films. NFL films used to like filming rowdy fans at Colts games as well but they were more a powerhouse team, especially at home. That highlight film of them beating the Raiders in Baltimore to win the AFC Championship in 1970 was one of the best I ever saw.

Speaking of the Raiders, their 1970 yearly highlight film was influential because John Madden still had wondered how Warren Wells had came up with a catch to beat the Jets that year. Once he saw the highlight film, he realized that Wells had tipped it away from two Jets defenders to himself. He felt it was the greatest catch he had ever seen. Imagine players and coaches being surprised by their own team, highlights reel?

[Sonny9]

Owners usually have the final say on films and George Halas was known to complain about some of the shady fans captured at games by NFL films.

In an NFL films video they touched on Halas not wanting Bears players highlighted in close ups as that would increase that players popularity and make him ask for more money.