NEW YORK — Greg Gumbel, a longtime CBS Sports news anchor, died from cancer at the age of 78, according to reports.
“He passed away peacefully surrounded by much love after a courageous battle with cancer,” said Marcy and Michelle Gumbel in a statement to CBS. “Greg approached his illness like one would expect he would, with stoicism, grace and positivity.”
CBS first reported the news along with the statement from his family.
He was a studio host of CBS Sports’ NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball coverage. Before that, he offered play-by-play coverage of sports.
Gumbel also hosted dozens of shows over the decades, including two Super Bowls and multiple Olympics, according to his Paramount/CBS biography.
In 2001, he announced Super Bowl XXXV for CBS, becoming the first Black announcer in the U.S. to call play-by-play of a major sports championship.
David Berson, president and CEO of CBS Sports, described Greg Gumbel as breaking barriers and setting standards for others during his years as a voice for fans in sports, including in the NFL and March Madness.
“There has never been a finer gentleman in all of television,” said Berson, President and CEO of CBS Sports. “He was beloved and respected by those of us who has the honor to call him a friend and colleague.”
In March, Gumbel missed his first NCAA Tournament since 1997 due to what he said at the time were family health issues. Gumbel was the studio host for CBS since returning to the network from NBC in 1998. Gumbel signed an extension with CBS last year that allowed him to continue hosting college basketball while stepping back from NFL announcing duties.
Gumbel’s voice was heard for over 50 years as he announced and hosted sport events. His wife and daughter say he leaves behind a “legacy of love, inspiration and dedication” and “his voice will never be forgotten.”
“Greg Gumbel was broadcasting royalty. He was as selfless a broadcaster as anyone in the industry has ever known. Our careers intersected for nearly 35 years, and he was the consummate teammate and friend,” said sports anchor Jim Nantz in a statement. “There’s not a member of the CBS Sports family who doesn’t have a sweet or kind memory of Greg. I have so much love and respect for him, and I’m going to miss him dearly.”
He won local Emmy Awards during his long career and was the recipient of the 2007 Pat Summerall Award for excellence in sports broadcasting.
Outside of his career as a sportscaster, Gumbel was affiliated with the March of Dimes for three decades, including as a member of its board of trustees. He also was a member of the Sports Council for St Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital for 16 years.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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