NFL 360: The Indelible Legacy of Jimmy Raye airs
on Tuesday, February 7th at 8:00 PM EST on NFL Network
NFL Media to hold an “NFL 360 Masterclass” for ASU film students ahead of Super Bowl LVII
Month of Black History Month programming to be capped by the 2nd annual HBCU Legacy Bowl on Tuesday, February 25th at 4:00 PM EST on NFL Network
January 26, 2023: NFL Network is celebrating Black History Month with special programming throughout February including The Indelible Legacy of Jimmy Raye, a unique episode of the Emmy Award-winning series ‘NFL 360’ that explores how one man’s story broke color barriers and changed football forever.
In the 1960s, with Black athletes facing rampant prejudice and the perception that they were incapable of playing quarterback, Jimmy Raye follows Coach Duffy Daugherty’s “Underground Railroad” to Michigan State. There, he becomes a star signal caller and goes on to inspire a generation of Black players and coaches.
NFL 360: The Indelible Legacy of Jimmy Raye airs on Tuesday, February 7th at 8:00 PM EST on NFL Network.
“Jimmy Raye was an exceptional athlete, but he was also a trailblazer,” said Angela Ellis, VP of Entertainment & Initiatives at NFL Media. “He became the first Black starting quarterback at Michigan State in 1966, forging a path for Black players and coaches after him.”
NFL 360 is NFL Network’s news anthology show of record and airs throughout the season, providing NFL players the opportunity to shine a light on the people, places and moments that are important to them through in-depth documentary storytelling.
NFL 360 Co-Creator Dallas Hitchcock said, “The Indelible Legacy of Jimmy Raye explores Jimmy’s story—not just because it’s about sports—but because it’s about courage, determination, and leadership. This story is bigger than football.”
In the week leading up to Super Bowl LVII, NFL Media will bring its film and media expertise to Arizona State University’s Sidney Poitier New American Film School in Mesa, Arizona, hosting a private screening of The Indelible Legacy of Jimmy Raye and offering an “NFL 360 Masterclass” for film students. NFL 360 producers will give an up-close look into the series’ Emmy-winning storytelling and cinematographic techniques, and provide insight into the world of sports, media, and entertainment.
“We are honored to host the NFL and encourage dialogue around this important film,” said Cheryl Boone Isaacs, founding director of The Sidney Poitier New American Film School. “The Indelible Legacy of Jimmy Raye is a powerful example of the impact that one person’s story can have on those who follow in his footsteps. The Poitier Film School fosters spaces that help empower our students so they can feel confident enough to tell their stories.”
In addition to The Indelible Legacy of Jimmy Raye, other special programming on NFL Network to celebrate Black History Month will include A True American Hero: The Rise of the Black Cowboy, Arizona Cardinal’s Kelvin Beachum’s look at the history of Black cavalry soldiers and cowboys in the Super Bowl’s host state (Tuesday, February 7th on NFL Network 3p ET).
Then starting Monday February 20th, NFL Network will continue to honor Black History Month with a weeklong celebration of the Black icons who have shaped the history of the NFL. Black History Month programming on NFL Network during the week of February 20 will include:
- A special premiere of NFL Inspire Change. Hosted by Patrick Claybon, this feature follows several NFL players who are making a major impact beyond the game and who embody the pillars of the Inspire Change initiative (Monday, February 20th on NFL Network 8p ET).
- The debut of a new season compilation of NFL City Life, a show that features NFL stars spending time with local icons and helping to put their local community on the map (Tuesday, February 21st on NFL Network 8p ET).
- The premiere of The Godfather and the Gunslinger, a look at the epic 1984 matchup of two powerhouse HBCU teams led by legendary coaches and two future NFL stars, Jerry Rice and Issiac Holt (Saturday, February 25th on NFL Network 3:30 ET).
- The 2nd annual HBCU Legacy Bowl will take place at Yulman Stadium at Tulane University. This postseason all-star game will showcase the best NFL draft-eligible players from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (Saturday, February 25th at 4p ET exclusively on NFL Network).
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ABOUT NFL MEDIA
NFL Media is comprised of NFL Network, NFL RedZone, NFL Films, NFL.com, the NFL app, NFL+ and streaming service, the NFL Channel. Seven days a week, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, fans turn to NFL Network to receive information and insight straight from the field, team headquarters, league offices and everywhere the NFL is making news. Launched in 2003, NFL Network gives fans unprecedented year-round inside access to all NFL events, including the Super Bowl, Playoffs, regular season, preseason, Pro Bowl, Pro Football Hall of Fame induction weekend, NFL Draft, NFL Scouting Combine, Senior Bowl, league meetings, minicamps and training camps. For fans on the go, all NFL Network programming can be streamed live through the NFL app and NFL Network app on smartphones, tablets, PCs and connected TV devices (Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, Roku and Xbox One). Access is available for NFL Network subscribers of participating TV providers. For more information, go to NFL.com/nflnetwork.
ABOUT NFL 360
NFL 360 is NFL Network’s news anthology show of record and airs throughout the season, providing NFL players the opportunity to shine a light on the people, places and moments that are important to them through in-depth documentary storytelling. NFL 360 won four 2022 Sports Emmy Awards in the categories of Outstanding Short Documentary (Mark Pattison: Searching for the Summit), Outstanding Editing – Short Form (Ode to South Central), Outstanding Long Feature (Through the Ashes: The Story of Black Wall Street) and The Dick Schaap Outstanding Writing Award – Short Form (Ode to South Central).
ABOUT THE SIDNEY POITIER NEW AMERICAN FILM SCHOOL
The Sidney Poitier New American Film School in the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts at Arizona State University is dedicated to training the next generation of cinematic storytellers, digital media artists and innovators of the imagination. We educate students on the journey a story takes from its inception through to the audience, and on all the varied platforms of distribution that we have today. Our goal is to ensure that our students are educated, energized and prepared for their chosen futures. The Poitier Film School’s student body comprises over 800 students, for whom we are creating the most inclusive, affordable and impactful film program. Almost half of The Poitier Film School’s students and roughly 30% of its faculty are minorities. The school operates across three cities, including a brand-new state-of-the-art facility in downtown Mesa, and at the ASU California Center in the newly renovated ASU Herald Examiner building in downtown Los Angeles.
