New York (Special to NFLNewsbyZennie62.com) – In celebration of the New York Giants’ 100th season, NFL Films honors the resounding legacy of Wellington Mara on the organization and the NFL overall with “The Duke: The Giant Life of Wellington Mara” on Friday, Oct. 25 at 8 p.m. ET on NFL Network.
The one-hour show examines Mara’s 80 years in the NFL, showcasing the decisive role he played in shaping the Giants and the NFL into the flagship institutions they are today.
Wellington Mara was a pioneer of scouting, worked with Vince Lombardi to bring Polaroids to the NFL for in-game adjustments, discovered Tom Landry, Emlen Tunnell and Frank Gifford, shaped the NFL’s business model by sharing television revenues with the rest of the league, and was the kingmaker who made Pete Rozelle commissioner. Throughout his entire football tenure, Mara developed close and lasting relationships through his philosophy of “Once a Giant, Always a Giant.”
“The Duke” includes interviews with the following people:
· NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell
· New York Giants president, CEO and co-owner John Mara
· Pro Football Hall of Famer and former New York Giants head coach Bill Parcells
· Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Lawrence Taylor
· Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Harry Carson
· Former New York Giants Super Bowl-winning quarterback Eli Manning
· Former New York Giants general manager Ernie Accorsi
· New York Giants radio play-by-play voice Bob Papa
· Former New York Giants tight end Jeremy Shockey
· Long-time sports journalist Peter King
Additionally, Giants icons Michael Strahan, Eli Manning, Phil Simms, Tom Coughlin and Tiki Barber each present and narrate a different segment of “The Duke.”
Provided below are select quotes from “The Duke”:
– “He’s one of the patriarchs. There’s only about four or five of them – he’s one of them.” – Bill Parcells
– “He was like the Forrest Gump of the NFL. It seemed like whenever something major happened in the league, he was a part of it.” – Michael Strahan
– “He was a Giant in more ways than one. He saw the entire development of the league.” – Roger Goodell
– “[Pete Rozelle] was a young general manager of the Rams who had not done anything to distinguish himself. Wellington Mara saw something in him.” – Ernie Accorsi
– “You can’t drive until you’re 17 years old and he was running a football team.” – Eli Manning
– “The Giants were in the 50s the cradle of coaches. Two of the greatest coaches of all-time: Tom Landry and Vince Lombardi.” – Peter King
– “He was always there to cheer me on and help me up.” – Lawrence Taylor