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There are many people in the history of sports journalism who can be called game changers, and Greg Gumbel deserves to be included in that category. As a broadcaster, Gumbel entertained viewers with his affable personality and extensive knowledge of athletics. He also paved the way for other African American broadcasters. Sadly, it was announced late last week that Gumbel had died at the age of 78. Now a number of notable names from the sports world, including Magic Johnson and Jemele Hill, are paying tribute.

News of Greg Gumbel’s death was reported last Friday when his wife Marcy and their daughter Michele released a statement shared with CBS Sports. They confirmed that Mr Gumbel “passed away peacefully and surrounded by much love after a courageous battle with cancer”. They also expressed in the message that the late sports journalist “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.”

Greg, the brother of fellow sportswriter Bryant Gumbel, was very popular in the sports media landscape – not only among fans, but also among his colleagues. As previously mentioned, Magic paid tribute to Johnson after learning of the CBS icon’s death. The former Los Angeles Laker went to X, where he penned a sweet tribute in honor of his former colleague:

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Greg Gumbel’s career began in the early 1970s when he landed a job as a sports anchor for a Chicago television station. Over time, he also took on broadcast and radio jobs at ESPN, WFAN Radio and MSG. He later also worked as a play-by-play analyst for NBC. However, Gumbel made his real name at CBS, where he served as an announcer for NFL games and eventually as a studio expert for the NCAA basketball tournament. During his time at the Eye Network, his coverage of Super Bowl XXXV in 2001 even made him the first African American to do play-by-play analysis for a major championship game.

Needless to say, the Louisiana native inspired many people, including former ESPN personality Jemele Hill. She shared her own memories of the X media trailblazer, saying:

Ernie Johnson, known for his emotional speeches, also honored Greg Gumbel. The longtime Inside the NBA host actually worked with Gumbel for years during NCAA broadcasts. With that, Johnson shared these warm sentiments on X:

To put it simply, the NBA on NBC Alum has more than left his mark on the industry. He also left a serious impression on the people he met. Check out some more honors below:

• It was 1998. CBS had just gotten the NFL back and hired a fresh-faced 28-year-old from ESPN to do pregame features. She was nervous. Was she one of them? Greg Gumbel was the kind, warm, welcoming voice that made her believe she did. We will miss you, legend. #RIP 🙏 – Bonnie Bernstein

• Greg Gumbel was an iconic voice – extremely smart, warm, trustworthy. He was also my friend. Greg wasn’t just funny – he was REALLY funny. I’ll miss him. – Phil Simms

• 51 NFL games with Greg Gumbel. I will miss his stories and his warmth. He welcomes me with open arms and the people around him have learned so much by watching him act as a presenter and as a person. I love you, Greg, and I will miss you. 🩶 – Jamie Erdahl

• Rest in peace to the legend Greg Gumbel. He honored me with this image at the Sports Emmys after graciously giving me 20 minutes of advice and encouragement on navigating the broadcast industry. – Robert Griffin III

It’s a little strange knowing that Greg Gumbel is no longer with us and we will really miss him. What is comforting, however, is that his legacy will certainly stand the test of time. We here at CinemaBlend extend our condolences to the Gumbel family as well as Greg’s friends and other loved ones during this time.