So who plays Lombardi?

Landry...

 

If the movie was made 10 years ago, Duvall.

 

Harris has the right look for Landry, but he's borderline A-list: way too big to take a secondary role in an ESPN biopic.

If it was a full-fledged theatrical release where they wanted to make an actual "good movie," I could see him as Landry (and maybe DiNiro as Lombardi).

 

Someone mentioned Tom Hanks and I immediately began channeling "Catch Me If You Can." He could be good as Lombardi, but ESPN productions are, one would think, beneath him.

 

Was Tom Landry ever heard to say, "Cue the sun"?

 

Just slightly...

 

He was terrific in "Empire Falls" on HBO.

 

I was about to suggest Ed Harris for Landry. Either him or the farmer in the "Babe" movies, if he is still with us.

 

Lewis Black

 

James Cromwell. Yup, still with is. He might be too tall for Landry. Cromwell is 6-foot-7.

 

I don't think Hanks has played a character who spends much of the movie in a roaring rage (see Pacino, DeNiro, etc). His characters don't tend to be domineering bad-asses (i.e. Lombardi).

For Don Shula, Michael Douglas. (Bill Pullman if you want to go with the younger version).

George Halas, John Mahoney.

Another idea for Landry, although he's now older than Landry was when he died: Clint Eastwood (and obviously he's too big a star for the role, too).

 

Dan Hedaya?

Or Al Franken, but I think he's booked being my senator.