Copyright Mechanicsburg Patriot News
Former Cincinnati Bengals star tight end Bob Trumpy, who went on to be a Hall of Fame broadcaster, has died. He was 80 years old. The Bengals announced Trumpy’s death Sunday morning. “The Cincinnati Bengals mourn the passing of former tight end Bob Trumpy, who played for the team from its inaugural season in 1968 through ’77. He passed away peacefully at the age of 80, at his home surrounded by family,” the statement said. Trumpy was a member of the first ever Bengals team in 1968. He spent 10 years in the NFL, all with the Bengals. For his career, he earned Pro Bowl honors four times after being selected in the 12th round of the 1968 draft. An Illinois native, Trumpy finished his career with 4,600 receiving yards, 35 touchdown receptions and averaged 15.4 yards per catch. Those are all records for a Bengals tight end. “I’ve known Bob since we started here and he had an extraordinary career as both a player and a broadcaster,” Bengals president Mike Brown said. “He was an exceptional and rare tight end who could get downfield and split zone coverages. Speed was his hallmark. 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.” Bob Trumpy started his broadcasting career while he was still playing, before calling NFL games once he retired. He was a color analyst for NBC Sports and was on the call for four Super Bowls, three Olympic Games and three Ryder Cups. Trumpy was presented the Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award by the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2014. “As a broadcaster, he made his mark both locally and nationally, and excelled at sports other than football in a career that was as successful as what he accomplished on the field,” Brown said. “He did it all very well and I regret his passing.”
