George Allen “Pat” Summerall (May 10, 1930 – April 16, 2013) was an American football player and legendary television sportscaster….after having worked at CBS, Fox, and ESPN. In addition to football, he also announced major golf….as seen in this video herewith….and tennis events. In total, he announced 16 Super Bowls on network television….which is more than any other announcer….26 Masters Tournaments…. and 21 US Opens. He also contributed to 10 Super Bowl broadcasts on CBS Radio as a pregame host or analyst.
Summerall played football for the Arkansas Razorbacks back in the day of the Southwest Conference ….and then in the National Football League (NFL) from 1952 through 1961….as he was drafted by the Detroit Lions and played with Bobby Layne. The best playing time in his career was with the New York Giants as a kicker. After retiring as a player, he joined CBS as a color commentator the next year….when he worked with Tom Brookshier….and then formed the greatest NFL broadcast team when he joined John Madden on NFL telecasts for CBS and Fox. Although retired since 2002, he continued to announce games on occasion, especially those near his Texas home.
He was named the National Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association in 1977….and was inducted into their Hall of Fame in 1994. That year, he also received the Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award from the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the American Sportscasters Association Hall of Fame in 1999. The “Pat Summerall Award” has been presented since 2006 during Super Bowl weekend at the NFL’s headquarters hotel “to a deserving recipient who through their career has demonstrated the character, integrity and leadership both on and off the job that the name Pat Summerall represents.”
We at ImaSportsphile put Pat Summerall “at the top of the heap” when it comes to sports broadcaster…..for he is a legend on his own…..and was magical with Madden…..and we consider each and every one of the many many videos we have with Pat Summerall behind the mike…..are nothing but “pure gold” in our treasure chest of vintage memories.
