One-hour special commemorates 40th anniversary
of 'The Longest Game Ever' in NFL history
Features never-before-seen footage, original radio broadcast
and new interviews with players and coaches
On Christmas Day in 1971, the Kansas City Chiefs hosted the Miami Dolphins in the AFC Divisional Game which the Dolphins won, 27-24, in double overtime after 82 minutes and 40 seconds of play. Four decades later, that game remains the longest NFL game ever played.
On the 40th anniversary to the day, NFL Network presents a one-hour NFL Films-produced special on the game, "The Longest Game Ever", Sunday, Dec. 25 at 6 p.m. ET on NFL Network.
"This show is like unearthing a treasure that was buried for 40 years," said NFL Films president Steve Sabol. "I am so glad that we can re-tell the story of this classic game to an entire new generation that has never had the chance to see it. Never mind sending this game film to the Hall of Fame; the Smithsonian would be a better choice."
Fourteen future Hall of Famers took part in the game, including both coaches (Don Shula and Hank Stram) and quarterbacks (Bob Griese and Len Dawson). Additionally, Kansas City's Ed Podolak posted 350 all-purpose yards (85 rushing, 110 receiving, 154 on kickoffs and one yard on punt returns), which is an NFL playoff record that still stands today.
Highlighting the never-before-seen footage is NBC television broadcast of the Dolphins' final, game-winning drive in the second overtime -- the only existing television footage that has not been seen since 1971.
Additional footage includes in-game sound from both team benches, such as Miami running backs Mercury Morris and Jim Kiick talking about trying to run against the Chiefs' run defense, and Kansas City head coach Hank Stram discussing team strategy prior to the first overtime.
The Longest Game Ever includes new interviews with the following individuals:
Bob Griese - Miami DolphinsHall of Fame quarterback
Don Shula - Miami DolphinsHall of Fame head coach
Len Dawson - Kansas City ChiefsHall of Fame quarterback
Paul Warfield - Miami DolphinsHall of Fame wide receiver
Bobby Bell - Kansas City ChiefsHall of Fame linebacker/defensive end
Ed Podolak - Kansas City Chiefs running back
Garo Yepremian - Miami Dolphins kicker
Jan Stenerud - Kansas City ChiefsHall of Fame kicker
Dick Anderson - Miami Dolphins safety
Jim Lynch - Kansas City Chiefs linebacker
Archived interviews with Hall of FameDolphins running back Larry Csonka, Hall of FameChiefs linebacker Willie Lanier and Chiefs head coach Hank Stram are also featured.
Live sound of the Christmas pageantry, Chiefs fans cheering on their team and vendors in the stands in the final football game ever played at Kansas City Municipal Stadium is also included in this unique look at one of the greatest games in NFL history.
Following the special at 7 p.m. ET, hosts Scott Hanson and Lindsay Soto join analysts Willie McGinest and Tom Waddle on a special Christmas edition of "NFL Total Access" to preview the game that night between the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears. At 11:30 p.m ET, host Rich Eisen and analysts Steve Mariucci, Deion Sanders and Michael Irvin recap the Week 16 games on a special Christmas edition of "NFL GameDay Final".
NFL Network airs seven days a week, 24 hours a day on a year-round basis and is the only television network fully dedicated to the NFL and the sport of football. For more information, log on to www.nfl.com/nflnetwork. NFL.com is the exclusive internet home of NFL Network.
