At jacket ceremony, Pat Bowlen remembered as 'the real deal'

[Miles]

CANTON, Ohio -- When the Pro Football Hall of Fame presented the gold jackets to the members of its 2019 class, it saved the most poignant presentation for last.


After the other seven members of the class received their gold jackets, the Hall of Fame presented Owner Pat Bowlen's coat, framed for display, to three of his children: Beth Bowlen Wallace, Brittany Bowlen and Annabel Bowlen. Together, Brittany and Beth held the frame aloft, displaying it to the thousands on hand for the jacket presentation at the Canton Civic Center.


Bowlen's presence was felt throughout the evening, never more than when former NBC Sports President Dick Ebersol spoke midway through the dinner.


Ebersol, the winner of the Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award, worked closely with Bowlen on myriad broadcast projects, including the 2006 creation of Sunday Night Football as the NFL's flagship primetime broadcast.


After thanking his parents, his wife and longtime NFL color analyst John Madden -- who advised Ebersol that "less is more" -- Ebersol turned his thoughts to Bowlen, his longtime friend and business associate.