Legendary broadcaster Pat Summerall dead at 82

Long before broadcasting Super Bowl games, 16 for television and 10 more for  radio – in fact, before there was even a Super Bowl – Summerall played a role in  what is known in football circles as “The Greatest Game Ever Played,” the 1958  NFL championship. The Giants lost to the Baltimore Colts 23-17 in the NFL’s  first-ever overtime game.

“Pat Summerall was one of the best friends and greatest contributors that the  NFL has known,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said. “His majestic voice was  treasured by millions of NFL fans for more than four decades. It is a sad day in  the NFL.”

Born George Allen Summerall on May 10, 1930, in Lake City, Fla., he was an  all-state prep football and basketball player there, and lettered in baseball  and tennis. He played college football at Arkansas before going to the NFL.

After breaking his arm in the preseason as a rookie for Detroit, Summerall  played five years for the Chicago Cardinals before four seasons with the Giants.  While he was also a defensive back, Summerall was primarily a kicker, making 100  field goals and 256 of 265 extra points in his career.

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