March Madness icon Greg Gumbel passes away at the age of 78

by:Jack Pilgrim•about 22 hours

Apr 5, 2021; Indianapolis, IN, USA; CBS announcer Greg Gumbel prior to the national championship game in the Final Four of the 2021 NCAA Tournament between the Gonzaga Bulldogs and the Baylor Bears at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

If you’ve watched March Madness and Selection Sunday at all over the last three decades, you know the face and voice of the legendary Greg Gumbel. The same can be said about his time as the NFL play-by-play broadcaster for CBS with multiple Super Bowl calls under his belt, among countless other high-profile events such as the Olympics, the College World Series and both MLB and NBA games during stints with NBC.

Today, Gumbel’s family announced the iconic broadcasting figure passed away at the age of 78.

“It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of our beloved husband and father, Greg Gumbel. He passed away peacefully surrounded by much love after a courageous battle with cancer,” Marcy & Michelle Gumbel said in a statement. “Greg approached his illness like one would expect he would, with stoicism, grace, and positivity.

“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. Greg’s memory will forever be treasured by his family, dearest friends, colleagues and all who loved him.”

CBS Sports released a statement on his passing, as well, touching on his larger-than-life personality, talent and character as a man who was universally loved on and off camera.

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“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,” said David Berson, the president & CEO of CBS Sports. “A tremendous broadcaster and gifted storyteller, Greg led one of the most remarkable and groundbreaking sports broadcasting careers of all time. He was a familiar and welcoming voice for fans across many sports, including the NFL and March Madness, highlighted by the Super Bowl and Final Four.

“Greg broke barriers and set the standard for others to follow. It is an extremely sad day for all of us at CBS Sports and the entire sports community. We will miss Greg dearly, and send our deepest condolences to his wife Marcy, daughter Michelle, and his entire family.”

March Madness will never be the same without Greg Gumbel.