Bryant Gumbel is reportedly in the hospital in New York, according to TMZ. The outlet states that the famed broadcaster, who is 77, experienced a "medical emergency." It is unclear exactly what that emergency may have been. Per the outlet, "Sources with direct knowledge tell us, the former Today cohost was transported Monday, just after 9 PM, from his Manhattan apartment building."
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Gumbel was taken out from his home on a gurney and brought to a hospital. He was reportedly still at that facility on Tueday afternoon.
A member of Gumbel's family would only say that he is "okay." That individual did not provide any other information on Gumbel's condition.
Gumbel Had a Remarkable Career in Television
Gumbel was born in New Orleans. Per TV Insider, he began his career editing a publication called Black Sports in the early 1970s. Then he switched over to broadcasting when he landed a sportscasting gig in Los Angeles working for KNBC-TV. Gumbel quickly proved his mettle.
In the mid '70s, he signed on with NBC Sports to do the NFL pre-game programs. He eventually found himself "the sole host or lead anchor on NBC's coverage of major league baseball, college basketball and NFL football games."
He Joined 'Today' Decades Ago
Forty-five years ago, Gumbel started doing sports for Today. Just two years later, he was anchoring the popular morning show. Some skeptics doubted that a person coming from a sports journalism background could be credible handling news. Gumbel's success soon proved them wrong.
Per the outlet, "In 1984, he headed the Today team broadcasting live from Moscow, including interviews with Kremlin leaders." Not an easy assignment! Along with the enviable coups, though, there were messy missteps. One involved weather caster Willard Scott. Gumbel criticized him in an internal document that went public. He apologized for the awkward situation. Gumbel also reportedly pushed for the program to be more news-heavy. While he was there, Today was highly competitive in the all-important ratings race.
He departed from his role on the show in early 1997. His brother, Greg, a well-known TV sportscaster, passed away on December 27, 2024 from cancer. He was 78 years old.
Gumbel Lived His Dream
Almost two tears ago, Gumbel talked with Jane Pauley, his longtime former Today co-host, for CBS News Sunday Morning. He confided that he had the chance to live his "fantasy life." And he seized that chance with both hands.
"You know what? This is going to sound very pollyannaish: I've kind of lived my fantasy life. I really have. ... And if you had told me when I was in high school in Chicago, what I would do with my life, I would've said, I'll sign up for that in a heartbeat. That's my fantasy life and I'm okay with it."
