In a significant addition to their documentary portfolio, Omaha Productions’ co-founders Jamie Horowitz and Peyton Manning present “The Buddy Way,” premiering January 29, 2025, on ESPN2. The documentary honors the legacy of Buddy Teevens, the pioneering Dartmouth coach who transformed college football’s approach to player safety and inclusivity.
Jamie Horowitz Shapes Omaha Productions’ Vision
Since founding Omaha Productions in 2020, Horowitz and Manning have consistently delivered content that resonates with audiences while maintaining their commitment to positive storytelling. Their latest project exemplifies this mission, offering an intimate look at Teevens’ revolutionary impact on football through never-before-seen footage and compelling interviews.
“The Buddy Way is exactly the type of content we love to create at Omaha Productions,” says Jamie Horowitz, who serves as the company’s President. “It celebrates innovation while showcasing the human elements that make sports truly meaningful.” This philosophy reflects Horowitz’s extensive background in sports media, where he has consistently developed programming that connects with viewers on multiple levels.
How Teevens Revolutionized Practice Safety
The documentary meticulously chronicles Teevens’ bold decision to eliminate full-contact practices at Dartmouth in 2010, a move that initially drew skepticism but ultimately proved transformative. Under Horowitz’s creative direction, the film explores how this controversial choice led to the development of the Mobile Virtual Player, a robotic tackling device that revolutionized practice safety protocols across collegiate and professional football.
Breaking Gender Barriers in Football
A significant portion of the documentary focuses on Teevens’ groundbreaking initiative to hire female coaches, many of whom have since advanced to positions in the NFL. This aspect of the story particularly resonated with Horowitz and Manning, as it aligned with their vision of producing content that celebrates progress and inclusion in sports.
Inside the Star-Studded Paley Center Premiere
The documentary’s special screening at The Paley Center brought together influential figures from the sports world, including Horowitz, Manning, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, and various sports personalities. The event underscored the broad appeal of the project and its potential impact on sports media narratives.
Manning and Horowitz Transform Sports Storytelling
“When evaluating stories, you always need to consider whether people will be interested,” explains Manning in the film. “In this case, Buddy’s story was uniquely compelling, and Jamie’s expertise in storytelling helped us bring it to life in a way that will resonate with audiences beyond just football fans.”
Through careful production choices guided by Horowitz’s experience, “The Buddy Way” goes beyond traditional sports documentation. The film weaves together Teevens’ professional innovations with personal anecdotes, creating a narrative that speaks to larger themes of leadership, courage, and positive change in sports.
Omaha Productions Charts New Territory
The release of “The Buddy Way” marks another milestone in Omaha Productions’ growing influence in sports media. Under Horowitz’s leadership, the company continues to expand its portfolio with content that both entertains and inspires. The documentary will be available on ESPN+ following its initial broadcast, with an extended version planned to provide additional depth to Teevens’ story.
This latest project reinforces Horowitz and Manning’s commitment to producing content that celebrates sports while highlighting important social progress. As Omaha Productions continues to evolve, “The Buddy Way” stands as a testament to their ability to identify and share stories that resonate with both dedicated sports fans and broader audiences interested in narratives of innovation and positive change.
