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The world of sports mourns the loss of Bob Trumpy, a distinguished figure in both the football field and the broadcasting booth. The Cincinnati Bengals announced his passing at the age of 80, noting that he died peacefully at home surrounded by his family. The team paid tribute with a moment of silence before their recent game against the Chicago Bears.
Trumpy’s journey with the Bengals began as an original member of the team, where he showcased his remarkable talents for a decade. His unique skill set as a tight end made him a standout player, lauded for his exceptional speed and ability to navigate through zone coverages. Bengals president Mike Brown fondly remembered Trumpy, stating, “He was as fast as any wide receiver and was a deep threat. That was rare for a tight end then and it’s rare now.”
Beyond the gridiron, Trumpy transitioned into a successful career as a network radio and television analyst. His contributions extended beyond football, as he became a respected voice in various sports arenas both locally and nationally. Brown praised Trumpy’s broadcasting career, remarking on its success and the lasting impact Trumpy made through his articulate and insightful commentary.
Before making his mark in professional football, Trumpy honed his skills at the University of Utah. His entry into the big leagues came when he was drafted by the AFL expansion Bengals in the 12th round of the 1968 common draft. That year, he etched his name into Bengals history by scoring the team’s first receiving touchdown with a spectacular 58-yard catch against Denver on September 15, 1968.
Trumpy played collegiately at the University of Utah before being drafted by the AFL expansion Bengals in the 12th round of the 1968 common draft. He scored the franchise’s first receiving touchdown on a 58-yard reception against Denver on Sept. 15, 1968.
Trumpy’s 4,600 receiving yards, 35 receiving touchdowns and 15.4 yards per catch remain the most by a tight end in team history.
After retiring, Trumpy went on to have a distinguished career in radio and television. He joined NBC Sports as an NFL analyst in 1978 and called games through 1997, when it lost the AFC package to CBS.
Trumpy was NBC’s lead analyst with Dick Enberg from 1992-94 and he called two Super Bowls. He also called “Monday Night Football” and two Super Bowls with Don Criqui on radio. He would also be a part of three Summer Olympics and three Ryder Cups for NBC.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame gave Trumpy the Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award in 2014 for lifetime achievement in NFL broadcasting.
Trumpy also was a sports talk show host in Cincinnati from 1980 to ’89. In 1983, while hosting “Sportstalk” on WLW, he received a call from a despondent woman who said she was going to commit suicide.
Trumpy spent the next 2 1/2 hours on the phone with the woman — who identified herself as “Sugar” — until police located her.
“I don’t know why she called a sports talk show,” Trumpy told the Los Angeles Times in 1993. “It probably was just the first phone number she heard on the radio and decided to call it.
“I sure didn’t feel like a hero after that. I hated that woman. She wasn’t the only one who had to go to a crisis center for therapy. So did I, since I couldn’t figure out why I hated her. They convinced me I hated her because of what she put me through.”