Greg Gumbel Dies; CBS Sports Anchor Was 78
CBS Sports anchor and commentator Greg Gumbel has died of cancer. He was 78.
His family confirmed his death in a statement to CBS News.
“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,” according to a statement from his wife Marcy and his daughter Michelle. “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.”
Born in Louisiana, the Loras College graduate first got into sportscasting in the ’70s when his brother Bryant told him of a gig that had opened up at the NBC O&O station in Chicago. He ended up working there for seven years.
He went on to work for ESPN, where he anchored SportsCenter and did the play-by-play for NBA games. He later covered Yankee games for MSG and became the host of the first radio morning show on WFAN radio in New York City.
He joined CBS in 1988 as a part-time NFL announcer before adding college basketball and The NFL Today to his duties. He would later assist with CBS’ coverage of the MLB, college football, the NCAA Tournament, the Daytona 500 and Pepsi 400, among others.
He left CBS Sports in 1994 to serve as a sports anchor for NBC Sports before returning to the Eye four years later.
In 2022, he celebrated his 50th year of broadcasting.
“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, said in a statement. “A tremendous broadcaster and gifted storyteller, Greg led one of the most remarkable and groundbreaking sports broadcasting careers of all time. He was a familiar and welcoming voice for fans across many sports, including the NFL and March Madness, highlighted by the Super Bowl and Final Four.”
“Greg broke barriers and set the standard for others to follow. It is an extremely sad day for all of us at CBS Sports and the entire sports community,” he continued. “We will miss Greg dearly, and send our deepest condolences to his wife Marcy, daughter Michelle, and his entire family.”
