Who is Greg Gumbel? Hollywood Life: 5 Facts About the Broadcaster, Dead at 78
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Greg Gumbel has passed away. The New Orleans native, who was 78 years old at the time of his death on December 27, 2024 after a long battle with cancer, died. The family released a statement on social media the same day expressing their deep sadness at the loss of Greg Gumbel, the husband and father they loved. He died peacefully, surrounded by love, after a brave battle with cancer. Greg’s memory will forever be treasured by his family, dearest friends, colleagues and all who loved him.”
As the world learns of Gumbel’s death, here are five things to know about the late, great, Greg Gumbel.
He Sold Hospital Supplies
Before Gumbel hit it big, he started out selling hospital supplies in Detroit. Wikipedia states that in 1973 at the age 27, Gumbel found an audition to be a sports announcer for WMAQ-TV Chicago. Greg was a natural and accepted the job. He moved to Chicago for it. Greg Gumbel worked for NBC for seven years. He gained a strong foundation in the industry that helped him become a household name.
Greg Gumbel’s success was accompanied by that of his brother
Bryant Gumbel
. Wikipedia states that Bryant was the one who first told Greg of the chance to audition for WMAQ-TV. Greg went on to become an announcer for CBS and NBC. The New York Times reports that Greg’s career began to take off in the 1980s when he was a familiar face covering NBA. In 1988, he began covering the NFL. The rest is history. David Berson, the president and CEO at CBS Sports, praised Greg’s legacy after his death. He Covered Major Events
Greg Gumbel is also remembered for his coverage at some of America’s most iconic sporting events. Per Us Weekly, in his five decades as an announcer, he covered three Super Bowls, became a recognizable voice in the CBS coverage of March Madness, and was the primetime anchor for CBS Sports’ 1994 Winter Olympic Games coverage.According to NPR, in March of 2024, for the first time since 1997, Greg missed his coverage of the NCAA tournament. He said that he was unable to cover the NCAA tournament in March 2024 due to health problems in his family. They subsequently welcomed one daughter, Michelle
, per Bleacher Report.
He Had a Degree in English
Though Greg would ultimately make his name in sports, he initially received his degree in English. He graduated in 1967 from Loras College, Dubuque, Iowa. This would be just the beginning of a long and distinguished career that spanned five decades. NPR reports that he won the Pat Summerall award for excellence in sports-broadcasting and multiple local Emmys over the years.
