Bob Trumpy, former Bengals tight end and broadcaster, dies at 80 Chris Cwik November 3, 2025 at 2:23 AM 0 Bob Trumpy, who played for the Cincinnati Bengals from 196877 before putting together a decorated broadcasting career, died at 80. (Photo by Sporting News via Getty Images via Getty Images) (The Sporting News via Getty Images) Bob Trumpy, a former Cincinnati Bengals tight end and media personality, died, the team announced Sunday. He was 80. Bengals president Mike Brown paid tribute to Trumpy in a statement, saying he had an "extraordinary career.
- - Bob Trumpy, former Bengals tight end and broadcaster, dies at 80
Chris Cwik November 3, 2025 at 2:23 AM
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Bob Trumpy, who played for the Cincinnati Bengals from 1968-77 before putting together a decorated broadcasting career, died at 80. (Photo by Sporting News via Getty Images via Getty Images) (The Sporting News via Getty Images)
Bob Trumpy, a former Cincinnati Bengals tight end and media personality, died, the team announced Sunday. He was 80.
Bengals president Mike Brown paid tribute to Trumpy in a statement, saying he had an "extraordinary career."
"I've known Bob since we started here and he had an extraordinary career as both a player and a broadcaster," Brown in a statement Sunday. "He did it all very well and I regret his passing."
Trumpy was responsible for a few historic milestones in Cincinnati during his playing career. After being selected by the Bengals in the 12th round of the 1968 NFL Draft, Trumpy turned in a Pro Bowl campaign as a rookie during the franchise's inaugural season. He was also responsible for scoring the first-ever touchdown in franchise history, hauling in a 58-yard pass from John Stofa against the Denver Broncos. It was one of three touchdowns scored by Trumpy that season.
The following season, Trumpy established a number of career bests. He gained a career-high 835 yards on just 37 catches, scoring a career-high nine touchdowns. That performance earned Trumpy his only All-Pro nod.
He went on to play a total of 10 seasons in the NFL, all with the Bengals. When he retired, Trumpy had 4,600 career receiving yards and 35 touchdowns. He was a four-time Pro Bowler and made one All-Pro team during his career.
Trumpy also holds the distinction of being the first player legendary offensive coordinator and head coach Bill Walsh put in motion on purpose, according to Athlon Sports' Doug Farrar.
That strategy reportedly came about thanks to a mistake. Trumpy mistakenly lined up on the wrong side of the formation during a game against the Oakland Raiders. When he shifted over to the right side, the Raiders' defense was extremely confused. After that contest, offensive line coach Bill Johnson and Bill Walsh decided to insert motion plays into the team's playbook. Trumpy's mistake led to him becoming the first player Walsh intentionally put in motion, per Farrar.
Following his playing career, Trumpy became a broadcaster. He began calling NFL games with NBC in 1978. Early in his career, he served on NBC Radio's primary NFL team, calling "Monday Night Football" and two Super Bowls.
Trumpy eventually replaced Bill Walsh as NBC's lead NFL analyst. Trumpy called two more Super Bowls in that role. He remained at NBC until 1997, when the network lost its NFL package.
After that, Trumpy worked with Westwood One radio, providing analysis for NFL games from 2000 to 2007.
Trumpy's broadcasting work extended beyond just NFL games. He hosted a program on Cincinnati radio for years, and called Ryder Cups and the Olympics.
In 2014, Trumpy received the Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award for his work in broadcasting.
Source: "AOL Sports"
Source: Sports
Published: November 02, 2025 at 09:27PM on Source: VOXI MAG
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