Jimmy Cefalo facts for kids

Jimmy Cefalo, born on October 6, 1956, is a famous American who has done many exciting things! He was a professional football player, a sports announcer, a news reporter, and even a game show host. He's best known as a wide receiver for the Miami Dolphins and as the "Voice of the Miami Dolphins" on the radio.

Growing Up and High School Football

Jimmy Cefalo grew up in Pittston, Pennsylvania. He went to Pittston Area High School. While there, he became a fantastic football player. He was so good that he was named to "The Pennsylvania Football News All-Century Team."

In his senior year, Jimmy was a top running back in the country. Many colleges wanted him to play for their teams. He is even featured on Pittston's "Inspiration Mural." This large mural celebrates important people from the Pittston community.

College Football Star

Jimmy Cefalo played college football at Penn State University from 1974 to 1977. He was a key player for the Nittany Lions. In his final year, he gained the most "all-purpose yards" for his team. This means he was great at running, catching, and returning kicks.

He helped Penn State win big games, like the 1975 Cotton Bowl Classic. He was even named the most valuable player of the 1976 Gator Bowl. In 1978, Jimmy earned a college degree in journalism.

Playing in the NFL

In 1978, the Miami Dolphins picked Jimmy Cefalo in the third round of the 1978 NFL draft. He played for the Dolphins for six seasons. He was known as a reliable player who always caught the ball.

Jimmy played in two Super Bowls with the Dolphins: Super Bowl XVII and Super Bowl XIX. In Super Bowl XVII, he stepped in for an injured teammate. He scored the team's only offensive touchdown in that game. His 76-yard touchdown catch is still one of the longest in Super Bowl history!

In 1984, Jimmy caught a pass from quarterback Dan Marino. This pass broke the record for the most touchdown passes in a single NFL season. It was a very unusual play because the ball landed right in Jimmy's facemask!

He also played in one of the most famous games in NFL history. It was a playoff game between the Dolphins and the San Diego Chargers in 1982. The Pro Football Hall of Fame called it the "NFL's Game of the '80s."

Life After Football

After his football career, Jimmy Cefalo became a successful broadcaster and journalist.

Working for NBC News

Jimmy worked for NBC News as a color commentator for NFL on NBC. He helped explain the football games to viewers. He also worked as a reporter for The Today Show. He was a sports anchor for NBC News at Sunrise. He even helped host the TV coverage of the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea.

Radio and Television Career

Jimmy Cefalo is now known as the "Voice of the Miami Dolphins" on the radio. He gives play-by-play commentary for their games. He also hosted a radio show about food, wine, and travel called Cefalo's - Eat This Drink That Go!.

He has won awards for his work. In 1988, he won an Emmy Award for his writing about the 1988 Olympics. He was also named Florida Sportscaster of the Year five times!

Jimmy co-hosted TV shows like PM Magazine and AM South Florida. He even hosted game shows, including Trump Card and Sports Snapshot. For 13 years, he was the Sports Director at WPLG-TV in Miami. He created and hosted a show called Sports Jam Live there.

Personal Life and Wine

Jimmy Cefalo lives in Miami Beach, Florida, with his wife, Janice. They have three daughters: Mia, Ava, and Katie.

Jimmy is very passionate about wine. His family has been involved in making and selling wine for over 150 years! His great-grandfather was a winemaker in Italy. His grandfather continued the tradition in Pennsylvania.

Jimmy even opened his own wine store called Cefalo's Wine Cellar. It had a special wine cave dug 36 feet deep! He also became a Wine Ambassador for Martini & Rossi, a well-known wine company.

NFL Career Statistics

Regular Season Games

Playoff Games