NFL legend Frank Gifford passed away on Sunday of natural causes, the Pro Football Hall of Famer's family announced. Gifford was 84.
"It is with the deepest sadness that we announce the sudden passing of our beloved husband, father and friend, Frank Gifford," the family said in a statement. "Frank died suddenly this beautiful Sunday morning of natural causes at his Connecticut home. We rejoice in the extraordinary life he was privileged to live, and we feel grateful and blessed to have been loved by such an amazing human being."
Between broadcasting and playing, the former New York Giants halfback was involved with the NFL for over 45 years, something NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell mentioned in a statement on Sunday.
"Frank Gifford was an icon of the game, both as a Hall of Fame player for the Giants and Hall of Fame broadcaster for CBS and ABC," Goodell said. "Frank's talent and charisma on the field and on the air were important elements in the growth and popularity of the modern NFL."
On the field, the versatile Gifford did a little bit of everything for the Giants, who played in five NFL Championship games and won one during Gifford's 12 seasons with the team.
From 1952-1964, Gifford did whatever the Giants needed. The 11th overall pick in the 1952 NFL Draft, Gifford played halfback, wide receiver, defensive back and even kicker during his time in New York.
At 26, Gifford was named the NFL MVP following a 1956 season when he led the Giants to their first NFL title in 18 years.
During the championship season, Gifford rushed for 819 yards, tallied another 603 receiving yards while tacking on another 35 yards passing.
Gifford scored nine touchdowns that year while throwing two touchdown passes, kicking eight extra points and a field goal. Although many players played multiple positions during the NFL's earlier eras, Gifford's versatility was even impressive for his time.
Two years after winning the MVP, Gifford and the Giants played the Baltimore Colts in the 1958 NFL title game in what has come to be known as "The Greatest Game Ever Played."
Although Gifford's team was on the losing end of the scoreboard, the 23-17 overtime game is considered by many to be the event that really put the NFL on the map. The game featured 17 players who would go on to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, a total that includes Gifford, who was inducted in 1977.
Gifford's career almost came to an end in 1960 when he took a devastating hit from Eagles linebacker Chuck Bednarik. The hit in the November 1960 game knocked Gifford out cold and knocked him out of football for 18 months.
The Giants halfback harbored no ill-will toward Bednarik.
"Chuck hit me exactly the way I would have hit him," Gifford told the New York Times in 2010. "With his shoulder, a clean shot."
After taking a year and a half off, Gifford would finally return to the field in September 1962.
In the "second" portion of his career, Gifford would earn a Pro Bowl (1962) and help lead the Giants to two more NFL title games. Overall, Gifford played in eight Pro Bowls and five title games.
Although Gifford had a distinguished career on-the-field, he may best be remembered for his career off-the-field, at least to the younger generation.
Seven years after his NFL career ended, a 41-year-old Gifford found himself sitting in the booth with Howard Cosell and Don Meredith for the second season of ABC's Monday Night Football.
Although the faces on MNF change several times, Gifford was the mainstay. The poised announcer was the play-by-play man for ABC from 1971-85 before taking over as color commentator from 1986-97.
Gifford also spent three years with CBS Sports, covering the Masters from 1969 until joining ABC in 1971. The affable broadcaster also called several NFL games for CBS.
The Hall of Famer had been married to television host Kathie Lee Gifford since 1986.
