Two-time Oscar winner actor Robert De Niro may soon take on the role of Vince Lombarbi in a film backed by sports television network ESPN. Eric Roth has been hired to work on the screenplay.

The sports television network’s division, ESPN Films said that it signed De Niro to portray the role of iconic U.S. football coach Lombarbi as he took the Green Bay Packers from worst to first in the National Football League.

Current plans call for the movie to be released around the professional football championship games in 2012 said ESPN.