[2] The character made his cinematic debut in the DC Extended Universe in the 2013 film Man of Steel, played by Michael Kelly.
Steve Lombard first appeared in Superman #264 (June 1973) in a story written by Cary Bates and penciled by Curt Swan.
I think that's because Lombard was one of the most sharply drawn and purposefully designed (though not particularly complex) characters I've ever handled - the most clearly communicated idea I've ever heard from an editor and the writer who co-created it: the jock doofus unwittingly trying to bust Superman's cajónes.
The day before his team is to play in the Super Bowl, Steve exacerbates existing injuries to his knees while saving a baby falling from a building.
Initially taking credit for the energy being's performance, Lombard publicly confesses the truth after the being goes on a rampage and is defeated by Superman.
Steve resigns from the Meteors and retires from football over his actions, leading Morgan Edge to hire him as a sportscaster for Galaxy Broadcasting, working alongside anchor Clark Kent on the Six O'Clock News.
[7] Morgan Edge ultimately fires Steve after many years due to his declining popularity with the viewing audience.
[10] The 2009-2010 miniseries Superman: Secret Origin established that Lombard, in post-Infinite Crisis continuity, was already on the staff of the Daily Planet when Clark began working at there.
[13] The cosmic-level threat, the H-Dial, manifests in a superpowered being called the Early Adopter appearing in the middle of the Daily Planet newsroom.
This version works as a sportswriter at the Daily Planet who later proves immune to the Bizarro virus due to his use of performance-enhancing drugs.