Thursday, 16 April 2026

Frank Gifford

Contest: The US Athletic Hall of Fame - Commentators 2026
Embed from Getty Images
Sport(s): Football, Golf, Basketball & Olympics
Statistics & Accolades: National Sports Media Association Hall of Fame
Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame
Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award
1x Emmy Award Winner
Lifetime Emmy Award
Disney Legends Award
Frank Gifford was one of the most successful players in New York Giants history, having led them to an NFL Championship in 1956, the same year he was named the league MVP. In addition, Gifford was a six-time First Team All-Pro, eight-time Pro Bowl Selection, a member of the NFL 1950s All-Decade Team, and he waltzed into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. What do you do for an encore? You become one of the most recognized broadcasters in the sport’s history.

Gifford was hired by CBS for its football package, but by the second year of Monday Night Football, he landed the job Roone Arledge wanted him to have: the lead play-by-play man for the most-watched weekly sports program of all time.

Gifford’s persona of a kindly elder statesman of the game was mixed with witty repartee when needed (especially when he was with Don Meredith and Howard Cosell). Gifford was able to shift easily to the color role when ABC hired Al Michaels for play-by-play, and though his role would diminish in later years, Gifford was, and always will be, considered a Monday Night institution.

In addition to his football duties, ABC often used him for other sports-related work, namely, Wide World of Sports and Olympic coverage.

We are proud to nominate Frank Gifford for the United States Athletic Hall of Fame.

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