PRESNAP Inaugural Issue cover. A screen-printed portrait of Dave Boss holding a camera on a monopod, in an orange shirt and navy vest, against green turf. Cover lines read: Cover Story, An Ode to Dave Boss, Why Are We Doing This?, The Man Who Brought the Turf to Life.
Cover Art by John Lytle

Why Am I Doing This? An Ode To Dave Boss

Inaugural Issue By John Lytle

The NFL is the NFL because of David Boss. He was an artist, designer, and self-taught photographer who was a consultant for the NFL in the early 60s. Before the AFL/NFL merger, he designed the book, The NFL and You, given to college players choosing between the two leagues: this book helped drive the final nail in the coffin of the AFL. After this success, Boss was handpicked by Pete Rozelle to become the Creative Director of the NFL and its fourth employee in 1965. Over a 38 year career, he legitimized the league’s image and brought a creative, enterprising spirit that spearheaded the growth of professional football. He modernized the NFL shield logo, commissioned artists every year for the Super Bowl, published the definitive books on the visual history of the game, and launched Pro! magazine. In 1992, he was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and many believe he, more than any other person, is responsible for transforming the face of sports graphics across the United States.

Cover of The NFL Experience by David Boss and Bill McGrane, showing a receiver in a black number 85 jersey reaching up for a football.
The NFL Experience, by David Boss and Bill McGrane

In 2026, the league is more successful than it has ever been. We are addicts who desperately crave the product that Dave engineered 50+ years ago. But today, the presentation of the league has never been more boring. Everything is clean, manufactured, minimal: the exact opposite of how Dave viewed the game. I want to see the beauty of the game expressed in a way that feels just as unexpected and human as the product on the field. I want to see the stories of today’s NFL told just as well as Dave did in 1965.

Expressive painting of a Green Bay Packers quarterback cradling the ball as a defender wraps him up, in yellows, greens, and blues.

I believe this void is due to the disconnect between the creative community and the sport. Football, despite being one of the most culturally dominant forces in the world, lacks an outlet that puts the game in context with culture. So this week, I am starting PRESNAP. This is a weekly magazine that will connect the most fascinating stories in pro football to culture at large. Every Wednesday for the rest of this season, we’ll be releasing a new issue digitally, featuring cover art and a written piece. One story, one cover, every Wednesday.

Cover of Pro! GameDay, 49ers edition, with an illustration of two San Francisco 49ers players running in front of the city skyline and the bay.
Pro! GameDay, 49ers edition, August 22, 1981

For now, it’s just me. I’m taking this on as a challenge that will force me to make something new every week. The goal though, is to hopefully have new artists and writers covering a story every week, so if you’re interested in participating, please don’t be afraid to reach out.

I got screwed by the early start to the season, but this first season is really a test: can we actually make a cover every week? If all goes well, next year, hopefully we can build on the momentum. Physical prints, more content, maybe building out an actual team.

For now, hope you’ll enjoy the ride, and hopefully we can follow in Dave’s footsteps.