Bryant Gumbel

Bryant Charles Gumbel was born on September 29, 1948, in New Orleans, Louisiana. He grew up in Chicago, Illinois, and graduated from Bates College in 1970 with a degree in Russian history. Gumbel began his professional career in journalism in 1971 as a writer for “Black Sports” magazine, quickly ascending to editor in 1972. His television career commenced in October 1972 as a sportscaster for KNBC-TV in Los Angeles. This early experience in sports laid the foundation for his national broadcasting career, where he was noted for his natural talent and precise delivery.

Gumbel transitioned to national television when he joined NBC Sports in 1975, co-hosting the National Football League pre-game show “GrandStand.” From 1975 to 1982, he covered various major sporting events for NBC, including Major League Baseball, college basketball, and the NFL. In January 1982, he became co-host of NBC’s “Today” show, a role he held for 15 years until 1997. His tenure on “Today” included broadcasts from significant international locations such as Vietnam, Vatican City, and various parts of Europe and South America. His work on the program earned him multiple Emmy Awards and established his reputation as a respected journalist.

Following his departure from “Today,” Gumbel moved to CBS, where he hosted “Public Eye with Bryant Gumbel” in 1997 and later co-hosted “The Early Show” from 1999 to 2002. Notably, he was the first to report the September 11 attacks to CBS viewers. Since 1995, Gumbel has been the host of HBO’s critically acclaimed investigative series “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel,” a program consistently praised for its in-depth sports journalism and a recipient of a Peabody Award in 2012. He also briefly served as a play-by-play commentator for the NFL Network’s “Thursday Night Football” from 2006 to 2007.