Greg Gumbel, Legendary US Sportscaster, Dies at 78

Famed American sports commentator Greg Gumbel has passed away at the age of 78 following a courageous battle with cancer, his family announced on Friday.

Gumbel, a longtime fixture at CBS Sports, was celebrated for his contributions to American football and basketball broadcasting. In 2001, he made history as the first Black sports commentator to provide play-by-play coverage of the Super Bowl.

In a heartfelt statement, his family expressed, He leaves behind a legacy of love, inspiration, and dedication to 50 extraordinary years in the sports broadcasting industry; his iconic voice will never be forgotten. They added that Gumbel passed away peacefully, surrounded by much love, after facing his illness with stoicism, grace, and positivity.

Originally from New Orleans and raised in Chicago, Gumbel began his broadcasting career in the early 1970s, calling high school basketball games for a local NBC affiliate. He joined CBS in 1989, after years of covering New York Knicks basketball and Yankees baseball for the Madison Square Garden Network.

Reflecting on his early career, Gumbel once said, We introduced our audience to a lot of guys who went on to become famous.

Colleagues and friends paid tribute to Gumbel’s remarkable career and character. Veteran CBS Sports anchor Jim Nantz called him broadcasting royalty and praised his selflessness, saying, He was a consummate teammate and friend. Lesley Visser, another longtime colleague, remembered him as one of the greats, noting his wit, light touch, and innate dignity.

During his tenure at CBS Sports, Gumbel hosted NFL Today during two stints, covering three Super Bowls (1992, 2013, and 2016). He also spent four years at NBC Sports, where he hosted NFL on NBC and several Super Bowl pre-game shows.

Beyond football, Gumbel served as the primetime anchor for CBS Sports during the 1994 Winter Olympics and co-anchor for the 1992 Winter Games. He was also a play-by-play announcer for Major League Baseball and a mainstay in college football and basketball broadcasts.

In March 2023, Gumbel missed his first NCAA basketball tournament since 1997 due to health issues. Despite this, he extended his contract with CBS that year to continue covering college basketball while stepping back from NFL coverage.

Greg Gumbel is survived by his wife, Marcy, their daughter Michelle, and his younger brother, Bryant, who is also a renowned broadcaster and former host of the Today show.