Since news emerged of the tragic passing of longtime broadcaster Greg Gumbel on Friday, countless prominent personalities in sports media have offered kind words for their late friend and peer. And on Saturday, two broadcasters who worked very closely with Gumbel shared their touching thoughts on Gumbel’s impact on their careers.
Both Trent Green and Jamie Erdahl worked closely alongside Gumbel on the broadcast of CBS NFL games over the years. Green and Gumbel worked together for six years from 2014-2019 before Erdahl joined the duo from the sidelines in 2017.
Green and Erdahl were both on the call for different NFL Network broadcasts on Saturday’s three-game NFL slate on the network. And both made it a point to discuss the kind of relationship they had with Gumbel during their time together.
On the call of the Denver Broncos vs. Cincinnati Bengals matchup, Green called working with Gumbel a “privilege,” detailing that he impacted everyone’s life that he touched.
“I had the privilege of working in the NFL booth with him for six seasons,” said Green. “As incredible of a broadcaster as he was, he was an even better person. Just made an impact on everyone’s lives that he touched.”
“As incredible of a broadcaster as he was, he was an even better person. Just made an impact on everyone’s lives that he touched.”
Along with Kevin Harlan, Trent Green, who worked with Greg Gumbel for 6 seasons, remembers his former broadcast partner. pic.twitter.com/HceYBvXbWU
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 28, 2024
Later in the day, Erdahl, who was on the call for the nightcap — an NFC West matchup between the Arizona Cardinals and Los Angeles Rams. After Rich Eisen shared his thoughts, Erdahl did the same.
“It was three years with Greg in the booth with Trent Green and myself on the sideline,” said Erdahl. “51 NFL games we did together and I cherished every single flight and meal and car ride and game that we worked. But Greg was kind as you said. He was quick-witted and he made us all better every time we came across him. If you ever walked away from interacting with that man, you always thought ‘That guy is legendary.’ We will miss him ever so much, Rich.”
“Three years with Greg in the booth with Trent Green — and myself on the sideline — 51 NFL games we did together…
“If you ever walked away from interacting with that man, you always thought, ‘That guy is legendary.'”
– Jamie Erdahl https://t.co/FOMSbHGslj pic.twitter.com/5LPupFAqLa
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 29, 2024
What makes someone like Greg Gumbel so great is that made such an impact on so many people’s careers throughout his own broadcasting journey that spanned half a century across numerous networks.
Gumbel was undoubtedly a larger-than-life personality during his life. And based on the countless tributes offered by his peers in sports media after his passing, it seems like his legacy may be even more prominent for years to come.
About Reice Shipley
Reice Shipley is a staff writer for Comeback Media that graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Sports Media. He previously worked at Barrett Sports Media and is a fan of all things Syracuse sports.