A dignified presence on camera, most prominently for CBS, he became the first Black announcer to call a major U.S. sports championship, the 2001 Super Bowl.

Greg Gumbel, the renowned CBS Sports anchor and commentator, has died at the age of 78. His family confirmed the news in a statement on Friday, saying:

Longtime CBS Sports broadcaster Greg Gumbel passed away at the age of 78 after a battle with cancer, his family

Greg Gumbel, the legendary CBS sports broadcaster known for calling NFL and college basketball games, died of cancer at age 78,

Greg Gumbel first started with CBS Sports in 1989, where he served as a NFL play-by-play announcer and an in-studio host for college basketball.

Greg Gumbel, a versatile sportscaster at CBS and NBC for 35 years, died of cancer at 78, his family said Friday.

The brother of fellow sports journalist Bryant Gumbel, Greg was much beloved within the sports media landscape – not just by fans but by his peers as well. As mentioned, Magic Johnson paid tribute after learning of the CBS icon’s passing. The former Los Angeles Laker took to X, where he penned a sweet tribute in his former colleague’s honor:

Greg Gumbel, a longtime sportscaster who called the NFL for CBS for decades and served as the studio’s host during the NCAA Tournament, has died.

I’m saddened to hear about the passing of longtime and legendary broadcaster and friend Greg Gumbel. Greg was an African-American pioneer. He spent over 50 years in sports broadcasting – as one of the first studio hosts and in the broadcast booth for the NFL, March Madness, and…

Greg Gumbel's passing has been a huge blow to the sports world. In honor of Gumbel, fans are now reliving some of the best calls from his legendary career.