Howard Katz to receive 2022 Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award presented by Hall of Fame

CANTON — For more than five decades, football has played a dominant role in American television. Howard Katz played a significant role in that, and he is being honored for it.

Katz will receive the Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award presented by the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He will be honored on Friday, Aug.5 at the Gold Jacket Dinner and during the Class of 2022 Enshrinement on Aug. 6.

The Hall presents the award annually in recognition of longtime exceptional contributions to radio and television in pro football.

“The NFL has benefited greatly from Howard’s six decades as a leader in the industry,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement released by the Hall. “He is a man of the highest integrity, a trusted advisor and an incredible team builder. Quite simply, the NFL would not be where we are today without Howard Katz.”

Dick Ebersol, former chairman of NBC Sports and Katz's longtime friend, said in a statement, “No one deserves it more than Howard."

"His intelligence and grace make him a most deserving recipient,” said Ebersol, who won the Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award in 2019.

Katz is currently the Senior Vice President of Broadcasting & Media Operations for the NFL. He oversees the league's schedules and makes the decision on which teams will play prime-time games.

Katz worked his way up in the television industry. After receiving his degree at the University of Colgate, he worked as a production assistant at ABC Sports in 1971. Some notable assignments include the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, “Monday Night Football” and “Wide World of Sports.” He moved to work at the Trans World International (the television arm of IMG Media) and as president of Ohlmeyer Communications Company for the next 20 years before ESPN bought the company in 1993.

At ESPN, Katz took over as executive vice president of production. Throughout his tenure, he helped launch ESPN2, ESPNews, ESPN Radio, ESPN International, ESPN Classic and the ESPY Awards. He returned to ABC Sports and helped revive "Monday Night Football' with the hiring of the late John Madden.

Katz joined the NFL to run NFL Films in 2003. He also helped create the flex-scheduling for prime-time games for the networks and was part of the NFL's streaming plan in its partnership with Amazon.

Past winners of the Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award

2021 – John Facenda

2020 – Joe Buck

2019 – Dick Ebersol

2018 – Andrea Kremer

2017 – David Hill

2016 – James Brown

2015 – Tom Jackson

2014 – Bob Trumpy

2013 – Al Michaels

2012 – Len Dawson

2011 – Jim Nantz

2010 – Chris Berman

2009 – Irv Cross

2008 – Dan Dierdorf

2007 – Don Meredith

2006 – Lesley Visser

2005 – Myron Cope

2004 – Van Miller

2003 – Don Criqui

2002 – John Madden

2001 – Roone Arledge

2000 – Ray Scott

1999 – Dick Enberg

1998 – Val Pinchbeck

1997 – Charlie Jones

1996 – Jack Buck

1995 – Frank Gifford

1994 – Pat Summerall

1993 – Curt Gowdy

1992 – Chris Schenkel

1991 – Ed Sabol

1990 – Lindsey Nelson

1989 – Bill McPhail

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Howard Katz to receive Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award