It was the greatest must-see show in the 80's and mid-90s, given that it was pre-internet time. It mainstreamed HBO's Inside the NFL, which was great in the early days. The earlier iterations were the Summerall-Brookshier-Facenda Saturday 'This is the NFL,' and Howard Cosell's Halftime Highlights on MNF. Glorious stuff.
But the real source and genius behind all of it was Ed and Steve Sabol, and NFL Films - again, giving us video highlights on TV
Click through to youtube. Nice 1976 Saints highlight at 4:15 in the Halftime Highlights video: