Legendary CBS sportscaster and play-by-play analyst Greg Gumbel has died after a battle with cancer, according to a statement from the family released by CBS Sports on Friday.
Gumbel was 78 years old.
A statement from the family of Greg Gumbel pic.twitter.com/oAkSrW8EtJ
— CBS Sports PR (@CBSSportsGang) December 27, 2024
Gumbel’s instantly recognizable voice was synonymous with meaningful NFL football, as he frequently called games with postseason implications. However, Gumbel was by no means only associated with the NFL. The longtime panelist and play-by-play man was also the voice of Selection Sunday and would announce the teams as they were selected for March Madness,
In 2024, Gumbel missed March Madness due to a family health issue, and Ernie Johnson filled in. The crew paid tribute to Gumbel at the beginning of the broadcast.
CBS also begins the NCAA Tournament coverage with kind words for Greg Gumbel, led by Ernie Johnson. https://t.co/mTEIPURgYw pic.twitter.com/BvlVWAmwZT
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 21, 2024
Tributes to Gumbel poured in from across the sports world.
So sad to hear about the passing of Greg Gumbel. Whether hosting or calling games Greg did it with passion poise and made it look effortless. One of the best ever RIP pic.twitter.com/PqV2gj4wma
— trey wingo (@wingoz) December 27, 2024
Rest in Peace, Greg Gumbel
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) December 27, 2024
A broadcasting legend pic.twitter.com/Xli33FGh19
Selection Sunday will never be the same 😔
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) December 27, 2024
RIP Greg Gumbel 🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/ovV1YhgBHJ
Last March when we were told Greg Gumbel was taking off from @MarchMadnessMBB on @CBSSports I feared it was something serious. According to published reports my worst fears were true. Apparently he’s died at age 78. A sportscasting GIANT. Greg could do it all.🙏💜 pic.twitter.com/JMY2OKzSvr
— Tim Brando (@TimBrando) December 27, 2024
RIP Greg Gumbel
— Steel City Star (@steelcitystar) December 27, 2024
⬇️ January 1994, Gumbel and Terry Bradshaw signing off as hosts on the last telecast of the 38-year run of the NFL on CBS.
Gumbel returned to announce games for the network after they reacquired rights to broadcast the NFL in 1998. pic.twitter.com/mU7gqIcBUc
Just so insane man…rest in peace Greg Gumbel. Made this moment 10x more special. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/RYkJYxmLtJ
— RAMEY (@HoodieRamey) December 27, 2024
I’m not sure there’s been a more pleasant and easy to listen to voice in the “host” role of an event/studio show than Greg Gumbel. An absolute pillar to CBS’ NFL/MarchMadness coverage for decades. One of those voices you lose but can’t replace. 😢
— Nick Yeoman (@NYeoman) December 27, 2024
pic.twitter.com/7SZQxRareb
Greg Gumbel was a giant in the business. Unflappable. I wrote for him at two Olympics, in Lillehammer and Atlanta. In Lillehammer, he was hosting the highest-rated unscripted show in tv history--second highest-rated, period, surpassed only by the last episode of MASH--and he was… pic.twitter.com/WWbDHhPl5O
— Jeremy Schaap (@JeremySchaap) December 27, 2024
“Beyond his March Madness coverage, Gumbel also did play-by-play for NFL games on CBS for over two decades across two stints with the network,” Larry Brown Sports reports. “He also spent two years as the host of the network’s “The NFL Today” studio show. Prior to that, he also did extensive play-by-play work for Major League Baseball games on both CBS and NBC and anchored coverage of various major events, including college football, the College World Series, and the Olympics.”
