Feb 1, 2012; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Pat Summerall gives interviews on Radio row prior to Super Bowl XLVI at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Dallas, Texas – Former Arkansas Razorback and Hall of Fame announcer Pat Summerall passed away on Tuesday due to complications from hip surgery at the age of 82.
Summerall was a NFL place kicker for the Detroit Lions, Chicago Cardinals, and New York Giants from 1952 to 1961 totaling 557 career points. While a college student at the University of Arkansas, Summerall played multiple positions including tight end, defensive end, and place kicker.
Originally from Lake City, Florida, Summerall enrolled at Arkansas in 1949 playing until 1951 then received his degree in 1953.
Most may remember Summerall as the unofficial voice of the NFL calling a record 16 Super Bowls. Summerall’s time in front of the camera began in 1962 calling Giants games for CBS. Over forty years calling games he helped revolutionize pro football with the help of former Oakland Raiders head coach John Madden.
Madden and Summerall became a team in 1981 calling games on CBS and Fox until 2002 when Summerall retired. The smooth voiced Summerall came out of retirement almost immediately re-upping with Fox but no longer being paired with Madden. Summerall spent one more year providing play-by-play before retiring at the end of the season.
From 2007 through 2010 Summerall called the Cotton Bowl Classic making his last appearance during the Cotton Bowl Classic pre-game show in 2011.
Throughout his career his easy going on-air style was coveted by other sports beyond football. Summerall announced for the Masters, the U.S. Open, and was used during the 1974 NBA Finals.
Summerall was inducted into the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association Hall of Fame in 1994. That same year he was awarded the Pete Rozell Radio-Television Award by the NFL acknowledging his contributions to pro football as an announcer.
By most accounts Pat Summerall is considered the best play-by-play announcer in NFL history.