Directing · Asbury Park, New Jersey, USA
Born in 1967, Todd Schmidt grew up in Asbury Park, New Jersey. He attended Temple University, where he majored in broadcast journalism and served as editor-in-chief of the Temple News, graduating in 1989. While at Temple, he covered Division I sports including Paul Palmer during his Heisman Trophy runner-up season. After graduation, Schmidt returned to his hometown to cover high school sports for the local newspaper before transitioning to New York City, where he worked in advertising and marketing communications for seven years at agencies including Scali McCabe Sloves, Lowe & Partners, and Grace and Rothschild. Despite success in advertising, the long commute and time away from his family prompted him to reconsider his career path and pursue his dream of working at NFL Films.
In 1997, Schmidt took an unconventional approach to landing his dream job, writing a ten-page letter to NFL Films President Steve Sabol that detailed his experience and passion for football. The letter caught Sabol's attention, and Schmidt was hired as a producer, beginning a career that has now spanned twenty-eight years. He advanced to senior producer and has become one of the most respected storytellers in sports television. Strengths include creative direction, exceptional writing ability, leadership of large production teams, and the unique capacity to transform complex football concepts into compelling narratives that resonate with fans.
Schmidt has won five national Emmy Awards for his work producing content ranging from two-minute promotional spots to sixty-minute documentaries. He serves as studio producer for ESPN's "NFL Matchup," creates championship films for Super Bowl winners, and produces live content for major NFL tentpole events including the Draft, Kickoff, and Super Bowl. Notable projects include "The Duke: The Giant Life of Wellington Mara" about the legendary Giants owner, "The Complete History of the San Francisco 49ers" (2006), and numerous Super Bowl championship films including those for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Kansas City Chiefs, New England Patriots, and Baltimore Ravens. Schmidt re-invented the NFL Films internship program and serves as the company's liaison to NFL Football Operations.
Schmidt is a sought-after speaker who shares career advice at universities and through social media, emphasizing the importance of gaining diverse experience and demonstrating "a pattern of consistent excellence." He resides in Mount Laurel, New Jersey.
