Professional Football Hall of Famer, legendary Monday Night Football broadcaster and Greenwich resident Frank Gifford suddenly passed away Sunday morning from natural causes at his home.
Gifford was 84-years-old at the time of his passing.
“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,” National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. “Frank’s talent and charisma on the field and on the air were important elements in the growth and popularity of the modern NFL. He was a great friend to everyone in the league, a special advisor to NFL commissioners, and served NFL fans with enormous distinction for so many decades. We will always remember Frank’s contributions and miss his friendship. Our hearts go out to Kathie Lee and the entire Gifford family.”
Gifford played his entire career in the National Football League with the New York Giants, from 1952 to 1964, and was one of the few that was successful on both sides of the ball. In 1956, Gifford was named the league’s Most Valuable Player and led the Giants to the league championship in the same year. He was named to the Pro Bowl eight times.
“Not only was Frank a member of the Giants family from the time he left USC, and will be forever, but because Frank, my father (Bob) and Pete Rozelle were so close in the ’60s, I felt like he was a member of my family,” said Steve Tisch, New York Giants chairman. “I always loved seeing Frank on our sideline before our games. He had the handshake of a 25-year old, and he looked you right in the eye with his big blue eyes. He was such a strong person in every way. He will be missed and will always be remembered as a Giants’ Giant.”
During his tenure with the Giants, Gifford was for 3,609 yards and finished with 34 rushing touchdowns. As a receiver, Gifford caught the ball 367 times for 5,434 yards and had 43 touchdowns.
Gifford was honored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame when he was inducted in 1977.
“Frank Gifford was the ultimate Giant,” said New York Giants president John Mara. “He was the face of our franchise for so many years. More importantly, he was a treasured member of our family. My father loved him like a son and was proud to act as his presenter for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, a favor Frank returned years later by presenting my father in Canton. For my siblings and me, Frank was like a revered older brother whom we looked up to and admired. We loved him and will miss him terribly.”
With his playing days behind him, Gifford hung up the cleats and picked up the microphone as a broadcaster. He was known after his playing days as a co-host for Monday Night Football, from 1971 to 1985.
Steve Thurlow, also a Greenwich resident, had a special connection with Gifford. When Gifford played his final season in 1964, Thurlow, also a running back, was starting his career as a rookie with the Giants.
“He was always welcoming to me,” Thurlow said. “I was very sad to hear about Frank’s passing. I thought about how much of a wonderful life he led and how happy he was with Kathie Lee. They were such a great couple together. We’ve been fortunate enough to be with him on a number of occasions and to see how happy they were made me feel good.”
There was history between Thurlow and Gifford before the days in New York. Thurlow’s father and brother graduated from the University of Southern California, the same school where Gifford graduated from.
“I knew the SC connection and always knew about Frank,” Thurlow said. “Because of that, he was very welcoming when I came on board with the Giants. In addition, I was also a running back, which was the primary position he played. He also threw the option pass and I have been a quarterback at Stanford, so there was that additional similarity because I could throw the option pass since I was a quarterback in college.”
During that 1964 season, Thurlow had the opportunity to connect with Gifford in more of a 1-on-1 setting, and that’s something Thurlow’s incredibly grateful for.
After every practice, Gifford would drive to 57th Street for his second job, working with CBS. Since Thurlow at the time was living at 59th Street in Midtown, Gifford drove Thurlow through the park and down to his apartment to drop him off before heading off to CBS.
“We got to be pretty good buddies,” Thurlow said. “It was an unusual relationship in the sense that I was a rookie and he wasn’t only a seasoned player, but was certainly the most famous New York Giant and arguable the most famous NFL player during his playing year. It was a big treat for me. I thought he was fabulous and was always great to me. But honestly, he was great to everybody.”
In Greenwich, Gifford enjoyed watching his children, Cody and Cassidy Gifford, compete in athletics during their tenure at Greenwich High School.
