Most pro football fans know Facenda as the longtime”Voice of NFL Films.” He was that and much more.
If there is a sports heaven, John Facenda deserves to be there. His nickname was “The Voice of God” because his resounding baritone voice made it seem that way. Ed Sabol said of him, “John Facenda could read a laundry list and make it sound like the Constitution of the United States.”
Facenda at WIP (photo courtesy Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia)
His career started in the 1930s when Facenda worked at Philadelphia’s WIP Radio. He always ended his show saying, “Have a nice night tonight and a good day tomorrow. Goodnight, all.” He transitioned in the early 1950s to become the full-time news anchor for Philadelphia’s WCAU-TV and quickly established himself as a trusted source for the news, sports, and the weather. Wilson Goode, former mayor of Philadelphia, said of Facenda, “I grew up feeling that he was the only newsperson in Philadelphia. I trusted him.”
Facenda’s assignment as the Voice of NFL Films, which endeared him to millions, came after Ed Sabol heard him talk while they were both at a Philadelphia bar. Facenda’s remarkable voice and style kept him at NFL Films for nearly a quarter-century. Perhaps best known for his memorable narrations of Super Bowl highlights, Facenda’s last significant contribution was Super Bowl 18, when the Raiders defeated the Redskins, 38-9.
When Steve Sabol wrote The Autumn Wind for the Raiders, Facenda narrated the poem: “The Autumn Wind is a Raider, Pillaging just for fun. He’ll knock you round and upside down And laugh when he’s conquered and won.” The poem became (and you can hear Facenda read it here) “The Battle Hymn of the Raider Nation.”
John Facenda, 71, died on September 26, 1984. He has won multiple awards in death, including the Ralph Hay Award, induction into the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia Hall of Fame, and the Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award.
John Facenda: Pro football is a game, not a war. It’s for win or lose, not life or death. But say that in the summer, for winter brings the playoffs, and a season is at stake.
