One of the most memorable broadcasters in NFL history has died at the age of 82. If you were a pro football fan in the second half of the 20th century, you listened to Pat Summerall call a football. He voice was synonymous with the NFL.
Pat Summerall was also a great football player before going into broadcasting. He played various positions at the University of Arkansas but found his place in the NFL as a place kicker with the Lions, the Giants and the then Chicago Cardinals.
Summerall was a standard fixture on Sunday afternoon television as he was the play-by-play guy for CBS where he worked for 31 years after leaving the NFL. He worked a record 16 Super Bowls… no one else has even come close to that mark.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said, “Pat Summerall was one of the best friends and greatest contributors that the NFL has known. He spent 50 years as part of our league, first as a player on the legendary New York Giants teams of the late’50’s and early ‘60’s and then as a Hall of Fame broadcaster for CBS & FOX. His majestic voice was treasured by millions of NFL fans for more than four decades. Pat always represented the essence of class and friendship. It is a sad day in the NFL. Our hearts go out to Pat’s wife Cheri and the entire Summerall family. Pat will always be an important part of NFL history.”
Among his most famous exploits, Pat Summerall was best known for his long standing relationship with the one and only John Madden who has been called the most famous football analyst of all times. However, some fans remember Summerall best for his games called with his good friend Tom Brookshier when the two shared the broadcast booth for many an NFL game. They were a fun loving pair and their camaraderie came through in their commentary. These guys were also famous for their off field antics as well.
To football fans everywhere, just the sound of Pat Summerall’s voice coming from the other room told us that we were about to be treated to yet another exciting NFL contest call by the master of the broadcast booth.
Summerall worked his final Super Bowl in 2002 and afterwards retired from broadcasting. He will be missed by NFL fans and players everywhere. He was one of the unsung architects of the NFL.
