He had legs made for a football field, a face made for television and a nice-guy persona. It all translated into spectacular careers in two different arenas—football and broadcasting—for Frank Gifford.

As a Hall-of-Fame player and Monday Night Football announcer, the spotlight shined on Gifford for almost a half-century. After starring at Southern Cal, he was the offensive centerpiece of New York Giants teams of the 1950s and early 1960s, which advanced to five NFL title games with the triple-threat back.

Gifford made the Pro Bowl—at defensive back, running back and flanker—in seven of his 12 NFL seasons. His last three campaigns came after a one-year retirement that followed a brutal hit by Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Chuck Bednarik in 1960. Gifford amassed 9,753 combined yards and his 5,434 yards receiving and 78 touchdowns are still Giants records. He also threw for 14 touchdowns as a master of the option pass from his halfback spot.

In 1971, he joined Howard Cosell and Don Meredith to form one of television’s most colorful broadcast teams. The straight man of the group, Gifford stayed 27 seasons in the Monday Night Football booth and worked more than 600 consecutive games through various changes in partners.

Credit: harrywalker.com