Late Friday afternoon, the sports community across the county mourned the passing of CBS Sports’ Greg Gumbel, who was 78 years old.
Gumbel was a media trailblazer and icon, recognized as one of the best in the business by all who followed his career across different networks and sports.
His wife and daughter issued a statement about his passing:
It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of our beloved husband and father, Greg Gumbel. He passed away peacefully surrounded by much love after a courageous battle with cancer. Greg approached his illness like one would expect he would, with stoicism, grace, and positivity.
He leaves behind a legacy of love, inspiration and dedication to over 50 extraordinary years in the sports broadcast industry; and his iconic voice will never be forgotten.
Greg’s memory will forever be treasured by his family, dearest friends, colleagues and all who loved him. — Marcy & Michelle Gumbel
Gumbel had an amazing career, especially considering that he didn’t have any formal training.
He was actually a medical supplies sales representative in Detroit when his brother, Bryant, suggested that he audition for a sportscaster role at a local station in Chicago.
He got that job and so began his legendary career.
Gumbel worked at ESPN from 1981-1986 and would also host and handle play-by-play duties for the Knicks, Yankees and the MSG Network. He also worked at WFAN in New York and won two local Emmys at WMAQ-TV in Chicago.
In 1989, he started his first stint with CBS Sports, staying until May 1994 when he left for NBC to host the network’s NFL pregame show after CBS lost the rights to the league.
At NBC Sports, Gumbel continued his greatness, hosting The NFL on NBC pre-game show and the network’s Super Bowl pre-game shows in 1996 and 1998. He also hosted the pre-game show for the 1994 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, was a play-by-play announcer on Baseball Night in America, a play-by-play announcer for The NBA on NBC and hosted the daytime coverage of the 1996 Olympic Summer Games in Atlanta.
Gumbel’s experience and range allowed him to cover many sports, which is the mark of a great broadcaster.
After returning to CBS Sports in 1998, he was the host and play-by-play announcer for college basketball and The NFL on CBS.
He went on to cover the 1992 and 1994 Winter Olympics for CBS Sports, the latter being the first time the Winter and Summer Games were held in separate years (they would go on to be held in alternating even-numbered years) and also hosted the College World Series (1989-93 and 2000-02), Major League Baseball and college football.
But his biggest moment came in 2001 when he became the first African American play-by-play announcer to call a Super Bowl (XXXV), a feat he repeated in 2004 at Super Bowl XXXVIII. That made him the first network broadcaster to both call play-by-play and host a Super Bowl.
In 2022, he celebrated his 50th anniversary in broadcasting. In March 2023, Gumbel re-upped with CBS Sports but stepped down from his NFL duties, ending a 30-year career in the sport.
That month, he also celebrated his 25th year of March Madness coverage. A year later, the network announced that he would miss the 2024 Tournament to deal with family health issues, marking the first time he wouldn’t be on the broadcast desk with Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Clark Kellogg since 2010 when CBS and Turner Sports partnered to air the Men’s NCAA Basketball Tournament.
Gumbel’s presence, smile, professionalism, talent and charm made him loved by all who knew and worked with him.
“The CBS Sports family is devastated by the passing of Greg Gumbel. There has never been a finer gentleman in all of television. He was beloved and respected by those of us who had the honor to call him a friend and colleague,” said David Berson, the president & CEO of CBS Sports.
He was funny with an underrated humor that he could showcase at any moment and with any of his colleagues.
“The news that Greg Gumbel has passed is just heartbreaking,” said Turner Sports’ Ernie Johnson on social media. “Was an honor to share the March Madness desk with him. A pro’s pro and a gentleman of the highest order.”
Gumbel opened doors for others to follow yet never boasted about it. He simply continued doing what he loved, which was bringing sports coverage to sports fans who loved hearing and watching him.
RIP Greg Gumbel, one of the best to ever do it.
