Jimmy Cefalo facts for kids

James Cameron Cefalo (born October 6, 1956) is an 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 is also known as the "Voice of the Miami Dolphins" for their radio broadcasts.

Early Life and High School Football

Jimmy Cefalo grew up in Pittston, Pennsylvania. He went to Pittston Area High School. He was an amazing football player there. His great performance even earned him a spot on The Pennsylvania Football News All-Century Team.

In his senior year, Jimmy was a top player. He was 6 feet, 1 inch tall and weighed 185 pounds. Many colleges wanted him to play for their teams.

Jimmy Cefalo is honored on Pittston's Inspiration Mural. This large mural celebrates important people from the Pittston community. It is the third-largest mural in Pennsylvania.

College Football Career

Jimmy Cefalo was a star player at Penn State University from 1974 to 1977. In his final year, he led the Nittany Lions in total yards gained. He played a key role in Penn State's big win against Baylor in the 1975 Cotton Bowl Classic. He was also named the most valuable player of the 1976 Gator Bowl.

In 1978, he earned a college degree in journalism.

Professional Football Career

Joining the Miami Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins picked Jimmy Cefalo in the third round of the 1978 NFL draft. He was the 81st player chosen overall. He played for the Dolphins for six seasons. During this time, he played in two Super Bowls: Super Bowl XVII and Super Bowl XIX. He became known as a reliable receiver who rarely dropped a pass.

Super Bowl XVII Performance

In Super Bowl XVII, Jimmy Cefalo stepped in for injured receiver Nat Moore. He was one of the few bright spots for Miami in their 27–17 loss to the Washington Redskins. He caught the team's only offensive touchdown. He also averaged an impressive 41 yards per catch. His 76-yard touchdown catch from quarterback David Woodley is still one of the longest in Super Bowl history.

Record-Breaking Play

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

Famous Game: The Epic in Miami

Jimmy Cefalo also played in one of the most famous games in NFL history. This was the AFC divisional playoff game. It was played between the San Diego Chargers and the Miami Dolphins. The game took place on January 2, 1982, at the Miami Orange Bowl. The Pro Football Hall of Fame even called it the "NFL's Game of the '80s."

Life After Playing Football

Working for NBC

After his football career, Jimmy Cefalo became a color commentator for NFL on NBC. He worked alongside other sportscasters from 1985 to 1989.

He also worked as a reporter for NBC News on The Today Show. He was a sports anchor for NBC News at Sunrise. He even co-hosted the coverage of the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea.

Jimmy Cefalo also hosted pregame shows for NBC during the 1987 and 1989 playoffs.

Radio and Television Career

Today, Jimmy Cefalo is the "Voice of the Miami Dolphins" for their radio broadcasts. He is the play-by-play announcer. He also used to host a news program for WIOD radio in South Florida.

In March 2012, he launched a new radio show called Cefalo's - Eat This Drink That Go!. This show is about food, wine, and travel. It aired on WIOD and was streamed nationally. He also provides sports analysis for the NFL Network and WINZ, a sports radio station.

In 1988, Jimmy Cefalo won an Emmy for his writing about the 24th Olympic Games. He was named Florida Sportscaster of the Year five times by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association.

He also co-hosted TV shows like PM Magazine and AM South Florida. In 1990, he hosted the game show Trump Card. Later, he hosted Sports Snapshot, a game show that combined shopping with sports trivia.

Jimmy Cefalo became the main radio announcer for the Miami Dolphins in 2005. He worked with former Dolphins players Joe Rose and Jim Mandich. Later, he worked with Joe Rose and Bob Griese.

For thirteen years, Jimmy Cefalo was the Sports Director at WPLG-TV in Miami. He hosted their Sports Jam Live program.

Personal Life and Interests

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

Jimmy Cefalo loves wine. He has a large collection of over 1,200 bottles in his personal wine cellar. His family has been involved in making and selling wine for many generations. His great-grandfather was a winemaker in Italy. His grandfather continued the tradition in Pennsylvania.

In 2007, Jimmy Cefalo received an honorary degree in Business Administration from Johnson & Wales University.

In 2008, he became the Wine Ambassador for Martini & Rossi, a brand owned by Bacardi.

NFL Career Statistics

Regular season

Playoffs