Gary Danielson’s Career at CBS Concludes with a Bump
After an impressive 20 years at CBS and 36 years as a renowned college football announcer, Gary Danielson’s time came to an end—though not without a little hiccup.
During the Sun Bowl on Wednesday, featuring Duke against Arizona State, the network unexpectedly cut off an emotional farewell. As Danielson wrapped up his final broadcast, sharing the moment with play-by-play announcer Brad Nessler, sideline reporter Jenny Dell, and the production team, their comments were abruptly interrupted by a CBS advertisement.
In a moment of irony, just as a countdown was seen in the corner of the screen, Danielson looked towards the producers and remarked, “And right after that, ironically, they actually went off the air.”
This mishap overshadowed what was intended to be a heartfelt tribute to the undrafted former quarterback, who had an 11-year career in the NFL with teams like the Lions and Browns before making the transition to broadcasting.
Danielson, Nessler, and Dell reminisced over cherished moments and photos from their careers, particularly those shared with Vern Lundquist, a legendary CBS voice.
“Everyone asks, ‘What do you want to be remembered as?’ That’s amazing, but I think this is what I want people to take away from it. And this is what I’m going to remember,” Danielson reflected while looking back at the images.
The broadcast then shifted to the production truck, capturing the cameraman at El Paso Stadium. The camera panned out to reveal other crew members, prompting Danielson to acknowledge their contributions to his journey.
Nessler expressed deep appreciation, stating, “It was an honor to work with someone who is unparalleled at what he does. We’re going to miss you. Our team’s going to miss you. CBS is going to miss you. And college football will miss you, buddy.”
Earlier this year, CBS announced Danielson’s planned retirement after the 2025 college football season, marking the end of a significant 20-year tenure with the network following his time at ESPN and ABC.
Charles Davis, who previously partnered with Ian Eagle in CBS’s No. 2 NFL team, will step in as the new lead college football analyst to succeed Danielson.
