During tonight’s Hall of Fame NFL pre-season game on NBC, Al Michaels rememebered his former Monday Night Football colleague, NFL Hall of Famer Frank Gifford, who died earlier today.
He was a very special man in so many ways. As an athlete, he grew up in Southern California, was an All-American at USC then on to the New York Giants where Frank played offense and defense over a 13-year Hall of Fame career. He could run, throw and catch. To this day, his name is still jotted throughout the Giants record books. You had to live in New York in the ’50s and ’60s to truly understand what a gigantic figure Frank Gifford was. He was right there with Mickey Mantle. And then it was on to broadcasting where Frank worked for CBS and then ABC which led to a 27-year run in the Monday Night Football booth. I had the great pleasure and honor of spending the last 12 of those with him. He was a wonderful partner, a great teammate. I’ll forever remember Frank as a man that no matter what was going on around him, he was always the coolest guy in the room. Our thoughts and prayers tonight are with Kathie Lee and the Gifford family. Rest in peace, Frank.