LOS ANGELES, CA. (THECOUNT) — Sports broadcasting icon Greg Gumbel has died at the age of 78, his family confirmed in a statement to CBS. Gumbel passed away peacefully, surrounded by much love, after a courageous battle with cancer.
Greg Gumbel was the older brother of famed broadcaster Bryant Gumbel.
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In their statement, his family highlighted Gumbel’s approach to his illness, describing it as one filled with ‘stoicism, grace, and positivity.’ They added, ‘He leaves behind a legacy of love, inspiration, and dedication to over 50 extraordinary years in the sports broadcast industry; and his iconic voice will never be forgotten.’
Gumbel’s memory will be cherished by his family, friends, colleagues, and all who loved him.
A mainstay for CBS, Gumbel was renowned for calling NFL games for decades, including Super Bowls XXXV and XXXVIII. He also anchored the network’s coverage of NCAA tournaments since 1998, where he hosted “March Madness” for over two decades. Notably, this past season marked the first March Madness he had missed since 1997, with his absence attributed to family health matters. His career also included play-by-play for NBA games, the Olympics, and he was the first African-American announcer to call play-by-play for a major sports championship in the U.S. with Super Bowl XXXV in 2001.
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