Greg Gumbel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Greg Gumbel
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Gumbel in 2009
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| Born | May 3, 1946 New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
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| Died | December 27, 2024 (aged 78) Davie, Florida, U.S.
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| Alma mater | Loras College (BA) |
| Occupation | Sportscaster |
| Years active | 1973–2023 |
| Spouse(s) |
Marcy Kaszynski
(m. 1973) |
| Children | 1 |
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Greg Gumbel (born May 3, 1946 – died December 27, 2024) was a famous American sportscaster. He was well-known for his work with CBS Sports. He covered big events like the National Football League (NFL) and college basketball.
Greg Gumbel made history in 2001. He became the first African-American announcer to call a major sports championship. This was when he announced Super Bowl XXXV for the CBS network. Until 2023, Gumbel was a main host for CBS' college basketball games. He also called play-by-play for the NFL on CBS.
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About Greg Gumbel
Early Life and Education
Greg Gumbel was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. He was the first child of Rhea Alice and Richard Dunbar Gumbel. His father was a judge. Greg grew up in Chicago, Illinois. He went to De La Salle Institute and graduated from there.
In 1967, Gumbel earned a degree in English from Loras College. He also played on the college baseball team. Greg had two sisters, Renee and Rhonda. His younger brother, Bryant Gumbel, also became a well-known television broadcaster.
Starting His Broadcasting Career
Greg Gumbel began his career in 1973. His brother, Bryant, was working in television sports in Los Angeles. Bryant told Greg that a TV station in Chicago, WMAQ-TV, was looking for a sports announcer. At that time, Greg was selling hospital supplies.
He got the job and moved back to Chicago. Greg worked at WMAQ-TV for seven years. The person he replaced later became the president of ABC Sports.
Working at Different Networks
Before joining CBS, Gumbel worked for several other networks. He was at MSG, ESPN, and WFAN radio in New York City. At ESPN, he hosted the show SportsCenter. He also called early NBA games.
On MSG, Gumbel was a backup announcer for New York Knicks games. He also covered college basketball. When MSG started broadcasting New York Yankees games, Gumbel hosted the pre-game and post-game shows.
First Time at CBS Sports
Gumbel started working part-time for CBS Sports in 1988. He announced NFL games. In 1989, he also began announcing college basketball.
From 1990 to 1993, he hosted The NFL Today with Terry Bradshaw. He also anchored CBS' coverage of Major League Baseball and college football. In 1999, he covered NASCAR races like the Daytona 500.
Besides hosting, Gumbel called play-by-play for many sports. These included the NBA, Major League Baseball, and College World Series baseball. He was also a main anchor for the 1994 Winter Olympics in Norway.
Moving to NBC Sports
In 1994, Gumbel moved to NBC. This happened after CBS lost its contracts for NFL and Major League Baseball games. At NBC, Gumbel hosted their coverage of the 1994 Major League Baseball All-Star Game.
He also called play-by-play for baseball games. He worked on The NBA on NBC. Gumbel hosted NBC's daytime coverage of the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. He also hosted The NFL on NBC.
Returning to CBS Sports
After Super Bowl XXXII, Gumbel left NBC to return to CBS. His first big job back was hosting CBS' college basketball coverage. This included the exciting NCAA men's basketball tournament.
CBS had just gotten the rights to NFL games again. Gumbel became the lead announcer for the NFL on CBS. He worked with Phil Simms. Gumbel called Super Bowl XXXV and Super Bowl XXXVIII. In 2004, he switched roles with Jim Nantz. Gumbel became the host of The NFL Today again.
Later, Gumbel went back to calling play-by-play for NFL games. He worked with Dan Dierdorf until 2013. He then teamed up with Trent Green for several years. In 2020, he worked with Rich Gannon.
CBS Sports renewed Gumbel's contract in 2023. This allowed him to keep hosting college basketball. However, he stepped back from NFL coverage. In 2024, Gumbel was not able to cover March Madness due to family health issues.
Personal Life
Greg Gumbel lived in Davie, Florida. He was married to Marcy, and they had a daughter named Michelle.
Greg Gumbel passed away from cancer at his home on December 27, 2024. He was 78 years old.
Greg Gumbel's Legacy
Greg Gumbel is one of only a few sports announcers to work on many different Super Bowl broadcasts. He hosted the television pre-game show for several Super Bowls. He also provided play-by-play for Super Bowl XXXV and Super Bowl XXXVIII. He even hosted the radio pre-game show for some Super Bowls.
During his time as the main host of The NFL Today, he worked with other famous sports figures. These included Dan Marino, Shannon Sharpe, and Boomer Esiason. Some of his colleagues gave him the nickname "Gumby."
