Greg Gumbel is an American television sportscaster. His work for CBS Sports, particularly in the National Football League and NCAA basketball, is what made him popular.
Bryant Gumbel made history in 2001 when he called play-by-play of Super Bowl XXXV for the CBS network, becoming the country’s first African-American pundit to do so.
Gumbel is the studio host for CBS’ men’s college basketball coverage and was a play-by-play broadcaster for the NFL on CBS until 2023.
Those watching March Madness this year may have noticed that he is not included in the coverage of the competition.
Greg Gumbel, the CBS studio host who celebrated his 25th anniversary of tournament coverage last year, will not cover this year’s NCAA tournament. Here’s why
What happened to Greg Gumbel?
CBS confirmed Gumbel’s absence on Sunday night before the bracket reveal. Since joining CBS again in 1998 after leaving NBC, Gumbel, now 77, has served as the network’s studio host.
Gumbel stepped down from his NFL announcing duties last year and was able to continue hosting college basketball thanks to an extension he signed with CBS.
Ernie Johnson of TNT Sports will host extra hours in Gumbel’s absence. The host of Sunday’s selection show, Adam Zucker, will also be included. During the NCAA Selection Show, Zucker and other coworkers wished Gumbel well.
“We are excited to have Greg back, as he has been a mainstay of our March Madness coverage for the past 25 years,” Zucker stated on Sunday’s broadcast.
Where is Greg Gumbel?
Richard Deitsch of The Athletic reports that Gumbel will not be participating in the NCAA Tournament studio coverage because of health concerns in his family.
Ernie Johnson is expected to play a bigger role, according to Deitsch, even though no official replacement has been named yet.
Awful Announcing points out that Adam Zucker and Brent Stover have also completed studio work for CBS during the regular season; however, it is unknown if either will take on some of Gumbel’s work.
Some fans took note that Gumbel wasn’t present for the NCAA’s preview of the top 16 teams in February, four weeks before Selection Sunday, and his absence turned out to be more than just a scheduling conflict.
There is no indication that Gumbel is retiring. Gumbel is 77, so he’s likely in the latter stage of his career, but he continues to look and sound as strong as ever when in the studio.
It is difficult to predict when Gumbel will return because the specifics of the family health issues he is attending to are unknown; it just will not be during the NCAA Tournament this year.
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