The sports community mourns the death of the legendary broadcaster Greg Gumbel. He was 78.

“It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of our beloved husband and father, Greg Gumbel,” his family said in a statement on CBS Sports on Friday, December 27th. “He passed away peacefully and surrounded by much love with cancer after a courageous fight.”

According to woman, Marcyand his daughter, MichelleGreg “approached his illness as one would expect of him, with stoicism, grace and positivity.”

Greg spent more than five decades covering sports. He joined CBS Sports in 1989 after years as an anchor and play-by-play for New York Knicks basketball and New York Yankees baseball for the Madison Square Garden Network.

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He has had the opportunity to host throughout his career The NFL today and was able to cover three Super Bowls. He also became a key part of the network’s March Madness coverage.

“I wanted to model myself after (a CBS play-by-play colleague). Pat Summerall“Greg once said Sports Illustrated in 2022. “He didn’t talk too much. He was unremarkable. He was specific about the things he said. And he was great. But how can you not be great when you play Giants-Cowboys, Bears-Packers, Rams-49ers, Eagles-Giants?”

A major career achievement for Greg came when he was asked to anchor CBS Sports’ prime-time coverage of the 1994 Winter Olympics.

“There has never been a finer gentleman in all of television,” CBS Sports said in a Dec. 27 statement. “He was loved and respected by those of us who had the honor of calling him a friend and colleague.” … It is an extremely sad day for all of us at CBS Sports and the entire sports community.”

CBS Sports praised Greg as one of “one of the most remarkable and groundbreaking sports broadcasting careers of all time.” They also called him a “great broadcaster and gifted storyteller.”

“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,” the statement continued. “Greg broke barriers and set the standard for others to follow.”

As sports fans continue to mourn Greg’s loss, his immediate family will remember his “iconic voice” on game day as well as the love he had for life off the field.

“He leaves a legacy of love, inspiration and dedication for over 50 extraordinary years in the sports broadcasting industry; and his iconic voice will never be forgotten,” his family’s statement said. “Greg’s memory will forever be remembered by his family, his dearest friends, colleagues and all who loved him.”