Longtime CBS Sports broadcaster Greg Gumbel dies at 78

Longtime CBS Sports broadcaster Greg Gumbel has died. He was 78.

‘It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of our beloved husband and father, Greg Gumbel,’ Gumbel’s wife Marcy and daughter Michelle announced in a statement to CBS Sports, where Gumbel has served as a broadcaster and host for decades. ‘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.’

Gumbel’s family continued: ‘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.’

The legendary broadcaster first started with CBS Sports in 1989, where he pulled double duty as an NFL play-by-play announcer and an in-studio host for college basketball, including the NCAA Tournament. Gumbel was not part of the 2024 men’s NCAA Tournament coverage earlier this year due to a ‘family health issues,’ CBS announced at the time.

Gumbel, the older brother of sportscaster Bryant Gumbel, was born May 3, 1946 in New Orleans and grew up in Chicago. Gumbel left a medical sales job for broadcasting after his brother informed him of an open sportscaster position in Chicago. Gumbel had stints at Chicago’s WMAQ-TV, Madison Square Garden Network, ESPN and WFAN radio before landing at CBS Sports in October 1989. 

Gumbel quickly became a fixture at CBS Sports, where he hosted ‘The NFL Today’ alongside Terry Bradshaw from 1990 to 1993, including Super Bowl 26 in 1992. He also served as the primetime anchor for the network’s coverage of the 1994 Olympic Winter Games and co-anchored CBS Sports’ weekday-morning broadcasts of the 1992 Olympic Winter Games. Not only did he host various events, including CBS’ coverage of Daytona International Speedway in 1999, Gumbel served as a play-by-play announcer for the College World Series, Major League Baseball and college basketball.

‘I like the variety,’ Gumbel said in December 2017. ‘I like the fact that I’m not always in the studio or not always at the games, but March Madness is a really special event… It is hectic but at the same time, I wouldn’t change places with anyone.’

Gumbel worked for NBC Sports from 1994-98 before returning for his second stint with CBS Sports as the studio host for the network’s March Madness coverage. He also served as a play-by-play announcer and host for the NFL. CBS Sports celebrated Gumbel’s 50th anniversary in broadcasting in 2022 and signed Gumbel to a contract extension in March 2023 to allow him to continue March Madness coverage while stepping away from NFL duties.

‘The CBS Sports family is devastated by the passing of Greg Gumbel,’ David Berson, the president & CEO of CBS Sports said in a statement. ‘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.’

Gumbel became the first Black play-by-play announcer to call a U.S major championship sporting event when he called the Baltimore Ravens’ win over the New York Giants in Super Bowl 35 in 2000. He was awarded the Pat Summerall Award for sports broadcasting excellence in 2007.

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