Greg Gumbel, a popular CBS Sports anchor and commentator, has died at the age of 78.
His family confirmed the news in a statement Friday.
It is with deep sorrow that we share the passing of our beloved husband and father, Greg Gumbel. He passed away peacefully with much love after a courageous battle with cancer. Greg approached his illness the way one would expect: stoicism, grace, and a positive attitude.
He leaves behind a legacy of love, inspiration and dedication over more than 50 extraordinary years in the sports broadcasting industry. His iconic voice will never be forgotten.
Greg’s memory will forever be cherished by his family, beloved friends, colleagues, and all who loved him. — Marcy & Michelle Gumbel
Gumbel has served as a play-by-play announcer and studio host for CBS Sports and previously spent several years on air for NBC Sports. He’s garnered legions of fans through his hosting gigs ranging from “The NFL Today” to multiple Super Bowls and Olympic Games.
2022 marks the 50th anniversary of broadcasting.
“The CBS Sports family is devastated by the death of Greg Gumbel. There was no finer gentleman in all of television. He was loved and respected by all of us who had the honor of calling him a friend and colleague,” David said. Berson, president and CEO of CBS Sports.
“A great broadcaster and talented storyteller, Greg led one of the most incredible and groundbreaking sports broadcasting careers in history. He led the NFL and March Madness, including the Super Bowl and Final Four.” Berson said.
“Greg broke barriers and set a standard for others to follow. This is a very sad day for all of us at CBS Sports and the entire sports community. We will miss Greg dearly and we thank his wife Marcy and daughter Michelle. Our deepest condolences to him and his entire family.”
Gumbel was born in New Orleans on May 3, 1946, and grew up in Chicago. He graduated from Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, in 1967. bryant gumbelHe also made a name for himself in broadcasting as the host of NBC’s “Today” show and HBO’s “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel.”
Greg Gumbel retired in 1989 after several years of hosting the Madison Square Garden Network and other MSGN programs and performing play-by-play duties for the New York Knicks basketball team and New York Yankees baseball team. He joined CBS Sports and won a regional Emmy Award. He also worked at ESPN, WMAQ-TV Chicago, where he won two local Emmy Awards, and WFAN Radio in New York City.
At CBS Sports, he hosted “The NFL Today,” the network’s NFL pregame, halftime and postgame studio show from 1990-93 and 2004-2005, and hosted Super Bowl XXVI in 1992 and Super Bowl XXVI in 2013. We hosted Bowl XLVII and Super Bowl XXVI. 2016 Bowl 50.
He served as primetime anchor for CBS Sports’ coverage of the 1994 Winter Olympics and co-anchor of the Network’s weekday morning broadcasts for the 1992 Winter Olympics.
He has also been a play-by-play announcer for Major League Baseball in the regular season and postseason, host of the 1990 MLB All-Star Game, college football broadcasts for CBS Sports, and host and play-by-play announcer for the College. World Series for several years.
“He was truly one of the greats. He had a light touch and wit, and everyone loved working with him,” said Lesley Visser, a longtime CBS Sports colleague.
“Greg had an innate dignity that he brought to the table,” she told CBS News in an interview Friday.
In 1994, Gumbel joined NBC Sports for four years, serving as host of “The NFL on NBC” pregame show and NBC’s Super Bowl pregame show in 1996 and 1998.
He hosted the pregame show for the 1994 Major League Baseball All-Star Game and served as a play-by-play announcer on NBC’s “Baseball Night in America.” Gumbel also served as a play-by-play announcer for “The NBA on NBC” and hosted NBC’s weekly coverage of the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.
Gumbel returned to CBS Sports in 1998 as host and play-by-play announcer for college basketball and “The NFL on CBS,” teaming with analyst Phil Simms for six seasons. He called CBS’s coverage of Super Bowls XXXV and XXXVIII, becoming the first network broadcaster to call play-by-play and host a Super Bowl at the time.
Gumbel hosted “The NFL Today” for two seasons before returning to the booth to team with Dan Dierdorf for eight seasons until 2013. He served as host of “Inside the NFL” on SHOWTIME in 2014 with analysts Phil Simms, Boomer Esiason and Ed. Reed and Brandon Marshall. At CBS, Gumbel also provided play-by-play for regular season college basketball and the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship, NBA regular season and playoff games, and College World Series championship games.
“Inside the NBA” host and sportscaster Ernie Johnson wrote on social media, “It breaks my heart to hear that Greg Gumbel has passed.” “It was an honor to share the March Madness desk with him. A professional’s professional and a gentleman of the highest order.”
Gumbel received the 2007 Pat Summerall Award for excellence in sports broadcasting.
“Greg Gumbel never cared about fame,” Visser said. “He cared about the people he worked with and what he did.”
Basketball icon Earvin “Magic” Johnson also paid tribute in a post to X, writing: “I am saddened to hear of the passing of Greg Gumbel, a legendary broadcaster and friend for many years. Greg was a pioneer for African Americans.”
Outside of the studio, Gumbel has been a longtime supporter of the March of Dimes, serving two six-year terms as a member of the March of Dimes Board of Directors and an additional 18 years as a member of the organization’s National Advisory Board. For 16 years, he also served as director of St. Mary’s Church, providing direction and guidance for the organization’s mission. He was a member of the Sports Committee at St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.
He has also served as a member of the Board of Trustees of his alma mater, Loras College, since 2009.