Greg Gumbel, a longtime CBS sports commentator who broke barriers during his career by calling for participation in major sporting events, died of cancer, according to a family statement released by the station on Friday.
“He leaves behind a legacy of love, inspiration and dedication over more than 50 extraordinary years in the sports broadcasting industry, and his iconic voice will never be forgotten,” his wife Marcy Gumbel and daughter Michelle Gumbel said in a statement.
In March, Gumbel missed his first NCAA Tournament since 1997 due to what he said at the time were family health concerns.
Gumbel has been a CBS studio host since returning to the network from NBC in 1998. Last year, Gumbel signed an extension with CBS that allowed him to continue hosting college basketball while stepping back from NFL announcing duties.
In 2001, he announced Super Bowl 35 for CBS, becoming the first black U.S. announcer to call a major sports championship a live game.
David Berson, chairman and CEO of CBS Sports, described Gumbel as someone who has broken barriers and set the standard for others over the years as a voice for sports fans, including the NFL and March Madness.
“A great broadcaster and gifted storyteller, Greg led one of the most extraordinary and groundbreaking sports broadcasting careers of all time,” Berson said.
He covered the 1992 and 1994 Winter Olympics
Gumbel worked at CBS twice, leaving the network for NBC after losing Football in 1994 and returning after regaining his contract in 1998.
He hosted CBS's coverage of the 1992 and 1994 Winter Olympics and broadcast Major League Baseball games during their four-year run, broadcasting national entertainment. In 1995, he hosted the World Figure Skating Championships, and a year later he hosted NBC's daytime coverage of the Summer Olympics in Atlanta.
We were saddened to learn of the death of Greg Gumbel, one of the greatest sports commentators of his time.
Although known for his decades of work covering football, basketball and the Olympics, Gumbel has hosted and participated in some of the biggest baseball events in… pic.twitter.com/CwYBLncOok
—@MLB
However, it was football and basketball that he was most famous for and had the greatest influence on him. Gumbel hosted the NFL studio show on CBS NFL today in 1990–1993 and again in 2004–2005.
Earlier this year, Gumbel recalled replacing Brent Musburger as host NFL today in 1990, describing it as intimidating and discouraging.
“The fact that I could sit in the same chair and do the same thing or try to do the same thing as him was an incredible honor,” he said.
Gumbel also called NFL games as the network's lead announcer from 1998 to 2003, including Super Bowls 35 and 38. He returned to the NFL booth in 2005, leaving the role after the 2022 season.
“Like everyone who knew and loved him. “I, too, am saddened by his death, but at the same time very grateful to have had him in my life,” Clark Kellogg, studio analyst and basketball play-by-player for CBS Sports, said in a statement. “What a gift to be touched by such a good man and partner.”
I am saddened to hear of the passing of longtime and legendary broadcaster and friend, Greg Gumbel. Greg was an African-American pioneer. He spent more than 50 years in sports broadcasting – as one of the first studio hosts and in the broadcast booth for the NFL, March Madness and…
Gumbel was the older brother of NBC host Bryant Gumbel Today show i Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel on HBO. Bryant Gumbel received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Sports Emmys in 2003.
Greg Gumbel grew up in Chicago and graduated from Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa in 1967 with a degree in English. He planned to become an English teacher, but auditioned for WMAQ-TV, the NBC affiliate in Chicago, in 1973 after his brother began working in sports casting, according to the book You're watching live!: How today's NFL revolutionized sports broadcasting. He was soon offered the position of weekend sports presenter.
“I'm a little surprised I got the job. I was certainly not a refined person,” he said in the book. “For me, it took me a good year to feel comfortable in front of the camera.”
Gumbel also worked for ESPN and the Madison Square Garden Network.
James Brown, who is currently the host NFL todaydescribed Gumbel on Friday as “A gentleman of versatility and also very telegenic.”
“It was nice to call him a friend who was able to do everything that was assigned to him after completing the task,” he added.
Throughout his long career, Gumbel has won local Emmy Awards and was the recipient of the 2007 Pat Summerall Award for Excellence in Sports Broadcasting.
In addition to his career as a sportscaster, he was associated with the March of Dimes for thirty years, including as a member of its board of directors. He also served on the Sports Council of St Jude Children's Research Hospital for 16 years.