Pro Football Hall of Famer Frank Gifford dies at 84

NFL Legend and sportscaster Frank Gifford died suddenly this morning of natural causes at his Connecticut home.

Gifford was named to the All-America team in 1951 after alternating at quarterback, halfback, fullback, punter, and place-kicker.

1956: The Giants claimed a league championship as Gifford rushed for 819 yards and picked up 603 yards receiving.

1958: NFL Championship Game: Giants versus Colts.

Gifford certainly did lead an extraordinary life. Gifford covered 588 consecutive NFL games for ABC. “I fumbled going out (of the end zone) and I fumbled going in.”. The contest became known as “The Greatest Game Ever Played”.

Gifford also appeared in about a dozen movies, the AP says, most notably Up Periscope (1959), which starred James Garner.

Cosell, who knew John Lennon, was reluctant to announce that the former Beatles musician had been murdered in New York.

Gifford saw just limited action in his final three NFL seasons, suffering a brutal head injury in 1960 from a clothesline tackle by Eagles linebacker Chuck Bednarik. Cody Gifford followed in his father’s footsteps, as he was a walk-on wide receiver at USC starting in 2008.

A straight-shooter who came off as earnest and honest, Gifford was popular with viewers, though some accused him of being a shill for the NFL. He was in the hospital for 10 days.

1964: Gifford returns to the Pro Bowl. To his everlasting credit, though, Gifford returned to go out on his own terms, recapturing Pro Bowl form in 1962.

There have been many voices on Monday Night Football over the past 20 years in order to make it more modern and make it more exciting but there was no better than hearing Gifford’s voice.

Gifford was honored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame when he was inducted in 1977. Forrest Gregg, Gale Sayers, Bart Starr and Bill Willis were his classmates.

“Giants co-owner Steve Tisch called him a “Giants” Giant”.

NEW YORK – MAY 13: Hoda Kotb, Frank Gifford and Kathie Lee Gifford attend the Society of Memorial Sloan Kettering’s 2nd annual Spring Ball at The Plaza Hotel on May 13, 2009 in New York City.

Those legendary Giants squads featured not only Gifford, but also Hall of Fame coaches Vince Lombardi and Tom Landry as offensive and defensive coordinator, respectively. Gifford was out cold on his back.

He retired from professional football in 1964. “He entered the NFL Hall of Fame in 1975”.