Sportscaster Greg Gumbel died December 27, 2024 at the age of 78 as a result of cancer.
Over the course of the weekend, broadcasters from across television have spoken on Gumbel and praised their colleague for his kindness, knowledge, and ability to cover multiple sporting events.
In 50 plus years of sportscasting, Gumbel covered football, basketball, the Olympics, baseball,, and even figure skating.
In 2001, he was a part of the broadcasting team for Super Bowl XXXV where he became the first man of colour in the Unted States to call a major sporting championship. He returned three years later to work on Super Bowl XXXVIII.
He won the Pat Summerall Award for excellence in sports broadcasting in 2007.
CBS Sports CEO David Benson spoke on Gumbel saying he was, “a tremendous broadcaster and gifted storyteller, Greg led one of the most remarkable and groundbreaking sports broadcasting careers of all time.”
Over the course of his career, Gumbel worked largely for CBS; but also had a stint with NBC, ESPN, and The Madison Square Garden Network.
Speaking on taking over the hosting duties for “The NFL Today” from Brent Musburger, Gumbel said, “the fact that I got to sit in the same chair and do the same thing or try to do the same thing that he did was an incredible honor.”
He was born May 3, 1946 in New Orleans but grew up in Chicago. He graduated from Loras College with a degree in English with the intent of being an English teacher. But following younger brother Bryant, Greg auditioned for WMAQ-TV in Chicago and got the job. Gumbel noted that it took him a year to become comfortable in front of the camera.
Outside of broadcasting, Gumbel made a few appearances in television productions as himself in the Burt Reynolds comedy “Evening Shade”, “3rd Rock form the Sun”, “Buddy Faro”, “Cosby”, and “Yes, Dear”.
Gumbel worked with the March of Dimes and St Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.
He is survived by wife of 50 years Marcy, daughter Michelle, and younger brother Bryant.