Frank Gifford's Career

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Gifford’s playing days were defined by rare versatility; he earned Pro Bowl selections at three different positions: safety, halfback, and flanker. His most dominant season came in 1956 when he won the UPI Most Valuable Player Award and led the Giants to an NFL Championship over the Chicago Bears. Over his 12 seasons (136 regular-season games), he amassed 3,609 rushing yards on 840 carries with 34 touchdowns. He was also a prolific receiver, catching 367 passes for 5,434 yards and 43 touchdowns. His passing skills were equally historic; he threw 14 touchdown passes, the most by any non-quarterback in NFL history, though his 6 interceptions are tied with Walter Payton for the most thrown by a non-quarterback. A pivotal moment occurred during a 1960 game against the Philadelphia Eagles when linebacker Chuck Bednarik delivered what is widely considered one of the hardest hits in NFL history. The tackle knocked Gifford out, causing a severe concussion that initially forced his retirement in 1961. He returned in 1962, switching from halfback to flanker, before permanently retiring after the 1964 season. His career included five trips to the NFL Championship Game and eight Pro Bowl appearances. An autopsy following his death revealed he lived with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a disease linked to repeated head trauma.

In Their Own Story

The narrative of Frank Gifford’s broadcasting career is anchored in the launch of ABC's Monday Night Football. Although ABC originally planned to hire him for the show in 1970, he was still under contract with CBS and instead recommended his friend Don Meredith. The following year, Gifford replaced Keith Jackson as the play-by-play announcer, a role he held for 27 of the show's next 28 years. His low-key delivery perfectly balanced the sharp wit of Howard Cosell and the charm of Meredith, helping the series become television's longest-running prime-time sports program. One of his most famous moments occurred in the waning seconds of a 1980 game between the New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins. When Gifford and Cosell learned of John Lennon’s murder, Cosell hesitated to break the news live. Gifford insisted, stating, "You’ve got to. If you know it, we’ve got to do it. Don’t hang on it. It’s a tragic moment, and this is going to shake up the whole world." Cosell then informed the national audience. He also provided play-by-play for Super Bowl XIX in 1985, the first broadcast on ABC, and later switched to color commentator in 1986 when Al Michaels took over play-by-play duties.

Reader's Guide

For fans studying the Giants' history, Gifford’s statistical profile offers a masterclass in positional flexibility. He is the record holder for touchdown passes thrown by a non-quarterback (14), while his interception total of 6 remains tied with Walter Payton for the most by a player outside that position. His career totals include 5,434 receiving yards and 34 rushing touchdowns. Beyond the numbers, his path to greatness is instructive: rejected by USC due to a low high school GPA, he played at Bakersfield Junior College, made the All-America team there, earned the grades to return to USC, and graduated in 1952. His transition from player to broadcaster was seamless. He won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Sports Personality in 1977 and received the Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award from the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1995. His legacy endures through tributes like the one on September 14, 2015, when ESPN announcers wore the gold jackets he helped popularize. Whether analyzing his 136 games with the Giants or his coverage of the controversial 1972 Olympic basketball game alongside Bill Russell, Gifford remains a central figure in understanding both the on-field and off-field evolution of American sports media.

Did You Know?

• Gifford threw 14 touchdown passes, the most by any non-quarterback in NFL history.
• He was knocked out by Chuck Bednarik's famous "Hit" in 1960, suffering a severe concussion that led to an initial retirement in 1961.
• Gifford convinced Howard Cosell to break the news of John Lennon's murder live on air during a Monday Night Football game in 1980.
• He played three different positions (safety, halfback, and flanker) for which he was named to the Pro Bowl.
• After his death, an autopsy revealed Gifford had chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).