The sports world lost a legend on Friday when legendary broadcaster Greg Gumbel died at 78 after a battle with cancer.
Media members and fans alike paid tribute to the voice that called scores of NFL games — including two Super Bowls in the booth and three as a host — and was an integral part of CBS’ March Madness coverage.
ESPN’s Jeremy Schaap called Gumbel a “giant in the business.”
Schaap’s father, Dick, and Gumbel both worked at ESPN during its first decade, with the latter working as a “SportsCenter” anchor.
“Unflappable. I wrote for him at two Olympics, in Lillehammer and Atlanta. In Lillehammer, he was hosting the highest-rated unscripted show in tv history–second highest-rated, period, surpassed only by the last episode of MASH–and he was never anything but calm, self-assured and professional. A gifted and lovely fella,” Schaap wrote on X.
Stan Verrett, a current “SportsCenter” host, penned an emotional goodbye to Gumbel.
“Greg Gumbel had the kind of career we dream of in our industry. He was talented, versatile, professional, respected, and tenured. Sad to learn of his passing, and sad that I never met him and got to say thank you for the inspiration. RIP,” Verrett wrote.
CBS college football reporter Jenny Dell added that Gumbel, the 2007 Pat Summerall Award winner, was “One of the best to ever do it.”
University of Wisconsin Green Bay basketball coach and radio host Doug Gottlieb fondly remembered working together with Gumbel at CBS.
“Greg [Gumbel] was so very kind to me during my time with CBS Sports and the years since. He LOVED his family, sports and live music. RIP. Cancer Sucks,” he wrote.
CBS News congressional correspondent Scott MacFarlane said Gumbel, who worked at CBS in two different stints, was a “North Star to many of us.”
Gumbel is survived by his wife Marcy and daughter Michelle.