NFL Legend Frank Gifford died- NFL Legend Frank Gifford’s sudden death has brought an outpouring of condolences and remembrances on social media. Frank Gifford died at the age of 84 of natural causes.
Gifford died Sunday morning. The family announced the news and it was reported by multiple outlets of which Gifford’s wife Kathie Lee Gifford is still a co-host.
“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, via “Today.” “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. We ask that our privacy be respected at this difficult time and we thank you for your prayers.” Kathie Lee Gifford said.
Francis Newton “Frank” Gifford (August 16, 1930 – August 9, 2015) was an American football player and television sportscaster. He spent his entire 13-year NFL career with the New York Giants, playing both offense and defense. He participated in five NFL Championship games and eight Pro Bowls, and won the leagues’s Most Valuable Player Award in 1956, the same season he won his only NFL Championship, In 1977, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. After retiring from the NFL in 1964, Gifford later became a commentator and play-by-play announcer for NFL games on CBS and most notably on ABC’s Monday Night Football.
NFL Legend Frank Gifford was married to television host Kathie Lee Gifford from 1986 until his death.
He began his NFL career with the New York Giants by playing both offense and defense.He made eight Pro Bowl appearances and had five trips to the NFL Championship Game. Gifford’s biggest season may have been 1956, when 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 laid out by a hard tackle. During a 1960 game against the Philadelphia Eagles, he was knocked out by Chuck Bednarik on a passing play, suffering a severe head injury that led him to retire from football in 1961. However, Gifford returned to the Giants in 1962, changing positions from running back to wide receiver (then known as flanker).
His 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.
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 with 6 interceptions. The 6 interceptions is tied with Walter Payton for most interceptions thrown by a non-quarterback in NFL history, while the 14 touchdowns is also the most among any non-quarterback in NFL history.
NFL Legend Frank Gifford appeared as himself as a guest star on the NBC television series, Hazel, in the episode, “Hazel and the Halfback”, which originally aired December 26, 1963.In the story, Gifford is interested in investing in a local bowling alley.
NFL Legend Frank Gifford was officially inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on July 30, 1977.
NFL Legend Frank Gifford was a Board Member for the Lott IMPACT Trophy, which is named after Ronnie Lott and is given annually to college football’s Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year.
NFL Legend Frank Gifford also served as a reporter and commentator on other ABC programs, such as their coverage of the Olympic Games (perhaps most notably, the controversial men’s basketball Gold Medal Match between the United States and Soviet Union at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich), skiing, and golf, and has guest hosted Good Morning America on occasion. He met his wife Kathie Lee while filling in as GMAhost. 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 when Knievel failed to clear 13 buses at Wembley Stadium in 1975.
“Frank Gifford was an exceptional man who will be missed by everyone who had the joy of seeing his talent on the field, the pleasure of watching his broadcasts, or the honor of knowing him, His many achievements were defined by a quiet dignity and a personal grace that is seldom seen in any arena; he truly embodied the very best of us. Frank’s contributions to ABC Sports and our company are immeasurable. We are honored to call him a Disney Legend and I am very fortunate to have called him a dear friend and colleague. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this difficult time.”Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger said in a statement.IMAGE/www.flickriver.com
