Frank Gifford
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| Frank Gifford | |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | August 16, 1930 (age 76) |
| Place of birth |  Santa Monica, California |
| Position(s) | HB Flanker |
| College | USC |
| NFL Draft | 1952 / Round 1/ Pick 11 |
| Career Highlights | |
| Pro Bowls | 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1958, 1959, 1963 |
| Awards | 1958 Pro Bowl MVP, 1956 UPI MVP |
| Honors | NFL 1950s All-Decade Team |
| Retired #s | New York Giants #16 |
| Stats | |
| Statistics | |
| Team(s) | |
| 1952-1964 | New York Giants |
| College Hall of Fame | |
| Pro Football Hall of Fame, 1977 | |
Francis Newton Gifford (born August 16, 1930 in Santa Monica, California) is a former American football player and one of the better-known American sports commentators in the latter part of the 20th century who made the transition from an athlete to broadcasting. Member of Phi Sigma Kappa Fraternity in 1952.
Contents |
[edit] NFL career
After graduating from Bakersfield High School, Gifford was unable to gain an athletic scholarship to the University of Southern California (USC) due to his low grade point average. Undeterred, he played a season for Bakersfield College, making the Junior College All-American team while making the grades needed to enroll at USC[1]. At USC, Gifford earned All-America and began his NFL career with the New York Giants by playing both offense and defense, a rarity when platoon football became popular after World War II. His career led him to eight Pro Bowl appearances and five trips to the NFL Championship Game, the forerunner of the Super Bowl. Gifford's biggest season may have been 1956, as he won the Most Valuable Player award of the NFL, and led the Giants to the NFL title over the Chicago Bears.
He lost 18 months in the prime of his career when he was the victim of one of the most brutal, though completely legal, hits in NFL history. During a 1960 game against the Philadelphia Eagles, he was cleanly blindsided by Chuck Bednarik on a pass play, suffering a severe head injury that led him to retire from football. However, Gifford returned to the Giants in 1962, changing positions from running back to wide receiver (then known as flanker). Despite having to regain his skills after his long layoff and learn a new position, he became a star once again. His seven Pro Bowl selections came at three different positions—defensive back, running back, and wide receiver. He retired again, this time for good, in 1964, after making the Pro Bowl as a receiver. Gifford was officially inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on July 30, 1977.
During his 12 seasons with the New York Giants (136 regular season games) Frank Gifford had 3,609 rushing yards and 34 touchdowns in 840 carries, he also had 367 receptions for 5,434 yards and 43 touchdowns. Gifford completed 29 of the 63 passes he threw for 823 yards and 14 touchdowns.
[edit] After Retirement
After his playing days ended, Gifford became a commentator mainly for NFL games on CBS. His big break came in 1971 when he replaced Keith Jackson as play-by-play announcer on ABC's Monday Night Football, joining Howard Cosell and Don Meredith, and would continue on as a commentator until 1998, amid controversy regarding an affair he had with airline stewardess Suzen Johnson.
Gifford also served as a reporter and commentator on other ABC programs, such as their coverage of the Olympic Games and skiing, and has guest hosted Good Morning America on occasion. In 1995 he was given the Pete Rozelle Award by the Pro Football Hall of Fame for his NFL television work.
He also announced Evel Knievel's jumps for ABC's Wide World of Sports in the 1970s including this dramatic call when Evel failed to cleared 17 buses at Wembley Stadium in 1975:
| “ | He's Down and he is hurt. Oh My God! | ” |
[edit] Family
Gifford 's elder sister was actress Frances Gifford. He has a daughter Victoria from a previous relationship. She was married to Michael Kennedy.
Gifford has been married (since 18 October 1986 ) to former television talk show host and singer Kathie Lee Gifford. They have two children: son Cody Newton Gifford (22 Mar 90) and Cassidy Erin Gifford (born 2 Aug 93).
| Preceded by Analysts for game in viewing area |
The NFL Today host 1965-1970 |
Succeeded by Jack Whitaker |
| Preceded by Keith Jackson |
Monday Night Football play-by-play man 1971-1985 |
Succeeded by Al Michaels |
[edit] Popular culture
Because of his diverse talents -- as an athlete, as a broadcaster, even as a game-show participant (in the 1960s he appeared on Password regularly) -- Mad magazine poked gentle fun at him in its Monday Night Football parody, by calling him "Frank Gifted".
[edit] External links
- Pro Football Hall of Fame: Member profile
- Frank Gifford Profile at USC Legends
| Preceded by Analysts for game in viewing area |
The NFL Today host 1965-1970 |
Succeeded by Jack Whitaker |
| Preceded by Keith Jackson |
Monday Night Football play-by-play man 1971-1985 |
Succeeded by Al Michaels |
| National Football League | NFL's 1950s All-Decade Team |
|---|
|
Otto Graham | Bobby Layne | Norm Van Brocklin | Frank Gifford | Ollie Matson | Hugh McElhenny | Lenny Moore | Alan Ameche | Joe Perry | Raymond Berry | Tom Fears | Bobby Walston | Elroy Hirsch | Rosey Brown | Bob St. Clair | Dick Barwegan | Jim Parker | Dick Stanfel | Chuck Bednarik | Len Ford | Gino Marchetti | Art Donovan | Leo Nomellini | Ernie Stautner | Joe Fortunato | Bill George | Sam Huff | Joe Schmidt | Jack Butler | Dick Lane | Jack Christiansen | Yale Lary | Emlen Tunnell | Lou Groza | |
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| NAME | Gifford, Francis Newton |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Gifford, Frank |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | American football player, television sportscaster |
| DATE OF BIRTH | August 16, 1930 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Santa Monica, California |
| DATE OF DEATH | |
| PLACE OF DEATH | |
Categories: Pro Football Hall of Fame | College Football Hall of Fame | American sports announcers | People from Santa Monica, California | New York Giants players | Sports Emmy Award winners | USC Trojans football players | Eastern Conference Pro Bowl players | National Conference Pro Bowl players | American football running backs | American football wide receivers | American football cornerbacks | 1930 births | Living people | NFL 1950s All-Decade Team | National Football League announcers | National Basketball Association broadcasters
