Greg Gumbel, the longtime CBS Sports broadcaster, has passed away at the age of 78. His wife, Marcy, and daughter, Michelle, shared the news in a statement to CBS Sports, where Gumbel had been a broadcaster and host for many years. They expressed their deep sadness, describing his death as peaceful, surrounded by loved ones, after a brave fight with cancer. They also highlighted how Greg faced his illness with strength, grace, and a positive attitude.
Gumbel’s family added, “He leaves behind a legacy of love, inspiration, and more than 50 remarkable years in sports broadcasting. His iconic voice will always be remembered. Greg’s memory will be cherished forever by his family, close friends, colleagues, and everyone who admired him.”
The renowned broadcaster began his career with CBS Sports in 1989, taking on dual roles as an NFL play-by-play announcer and an in-studio host for college basketball, including the NCAA Tournament. Gumbel was absent from the 2024 men’s NCAA Tournament coverage earlier this year, with CBS citing “family health issues” as the reason at the time.
Greg Gumbel, the older brother of sportscaster Bryant Gumbel, was born on May 3, 1946, in New Orleans and raised in Chicago. He transitioned from a medical sales career to broadcasting after his brother informed him of a sportscaster opening in Chicago. Gumbel worked at several outlets, including Chicago’s WMAQ-TV, Madison Square Garden Network, ESPN, and WFAN radio, before joining CBS Sports in October 1989.
Greg Gumbel quickly became a key figure at CBS Sports, hosting The NFL Today alongside Terry Bradshaw from 1990 to 1993, including the coverage of Super Bowl 26 in 1992. He also served as the primetime anchor for CBS’s coverage of the 1994 Winter Olympics and co-anchored the network’s weekday-morning broadcasts of the 1992 Winter Games. Gumbel hosted a variety of events, including CBS’s coverage of the Daytona International Speedway in 1999, and worked as a play-by-play announcer for the College World Series, Major League Baseball, and college basketball.
In December 2017, Gumbel shared his appreciation for the variety in his work, saying, “I like the variety. I like the fact that I’m not always in the studio or not always at the games, but March Madness is a really special event… It is hectic but at the same time, I wouldn’t change places with anyone.”
Greg Gumbel worked with NBC Sports from 1994 to 1998 before returning to CBS Sports for a second stint as the studio host for the network’s March Madness coverage. He also served as a play-by-play announcer and host for the NFL. In 2022, CBS Sports celebrated Gumbel’s 50th anniversary in broadcasting, and in March 2023, the network signed him to a contract extension, allowing him to continue covering March Madness while stepping back from his NFL duties.
David Berson, the president and CEO of CBS Sports, expressed the network’s sorrow over Greg Gumbel’s passing in a statement, saying, “The CBS Sports family is devastated by the passing of Greg Gumbel. There has never been a finer gentleman in all of television. He was beloved and respected by those of us who had the honor to call him a friend and colleague.”
Gumbel made history in 2000 as the first Black play-by-play announcer to cover a major U.S. championship sporting event, calling the Baltimore Ravens’ victory over the New York Giants in Super Bowl 35. In 2007, he received the Pat Summerall Award for sports broadcasting excellence.