While the NFL celebrated six new inductees into the Pro Football Hall of Fame over the weekend, former Chiefs offensive tackle Willie Roaf wasn't the only player being honored in Canton, Ohio. Len Dawson, legendary quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs, is already a member of the Hall of Fame as a player, but he was also honored this weekend as a broadcaster for his pioneering work there as well.
Dawson received the annual Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award given for "exceptional contributions" in broadcasting each and every year.
Dawson helped to broadcast Chiefs games even while playing for the team, covering late night broadcasts for KMBC, and Dawson's experienced earned him early spots for NBC Sports and HBO's Inside The NFL as well.
"This is an unbelievable award for me," Dawson said. "To be in the Hall of Fame as a player was the highlight of my playing career, but now to be recognized by the Hall of Fame as a broadcaster, well, it's just a great, great honor."
It was his work at HBO that really helped move the game forward. Dawson recognized that even as he was being recognized.
"That was a pioneer in broadcasting as far as highlights of game," said Dawson, who didn't have cable himself when "Inside the NFL" first aired. "That was the only place you could get highlights of every game played. Now you get them all on Sunday evening when the games were over. Cable really grew after that. That was a lot of exposure, because I know all the people who played in the NFL who had cable watched that show. "
Dan Dierdorf and Frank Gifford are the only other two former players who have won the award.
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