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USA Today
23-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Remembering Mike Patrick: The Voice of ESPN's Sunday Night Football
Remembering Mike Patrick: The Voice of ESPN's Sunday Night Football On April 20, 2025, the sports broadcasting world lost a legend with the passing of Mike Patrick at age 80. Patrick, who died of natural causes in Fairfax, Virginia, had a 36-year legacy at ESPN, where his voice became synonymous with some of the most thrilling moments in sports. Most notably, he was the play-by-play announcer for ESPN's Sunday Night Football from 1987 to 2005, where he became one of the network's most influential voices. Patrick's journey began in 1982 when he joined ESPN, just three years after its inception. He had the honor of calling the network's first-ever regular-season NFL game in 1987, a matchup between the New England Patriots and the New York Giants, he launched ESPN's Sunday Night Football's 18-year run. Alongside analysts like Joe Theismann and Paul Maguire, Patrick's energetic delivery and insight brought games to life. His ability to capture the intensity of NFL Sundays made him a household name. Beyond football, Patrick had the same kind of excitement covering college basketball, where he called over 30 ACC championships, and the Women's Final Four from 1996 to 2009. "Mike had great energy and a keen knowledge of ACC basketball, and I truly enjoyed sitting next to him calling so many special games over the years." said Dick Vitale, his longtime broadcast partner and who gave Patrick the nickname 'Mr ACC'. Patrick's final call was the 2017 AutoZone Liberty Bowl, marking the end of an illustrious career. His voice, a soundtrack to American sports, will echo in the hearts of fans forever.
Irish Daily Star
23-04-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Star
Tributes paid to legendary ESPN commentator Mike Patrick after death, aged 80
Veteran ESPN commentator Mike Patrick has passed away at the age of 80, it was announced on Tuesday. According to ESPN, Patrick's doctor confirmed that he died of natural causes in Fairfax, Virginia. Patrick had been off the air since 2017, with his final broadcast being the AutoZone Liberty Bowl on December 30, 2017. Before his retirement, Patrick was the voice of ESPN's 'Sunday Night Football' coverage from 1987 to 2005. He also worked alongside Joe Theismann on ESPN's first NFL regular season game and spent many years partnering with Paul Maguire. The news of Patrick's passing was first shared by John Antonik, West Virginia University's Senior Director of Content, on social media. Antonik wrote on X: "Was passed along the very sad news from former broadcasting colleague Kevin Kiley that Mike Patrick passed away on Easter Sunday. Read More Related Articles Terry Bradshaw vows not to retire and lists three things he'll do until he dies Read More Related Articles Notre Dame star awaits NFL Draft shot despite ACL injury cutting season short "Although Mike didn't attend WVU, he was an unapologetic Mountaineer supporter and one the great broadcasters to ever call college and pro sports." The Athletic's Chris Vannini added on X: "RIP Mike Patrick, one of the great voices of ESPN college football in the 2000s and 2010s." ESPN's women's basketball reporter Holly Rowe shared her sorrow, starting her tribute with "This is heartbreaking. We spent many wonderful days mostly laughing then sprinkled in calling games. Mike Patrick was always an absolute delight." Fans and admirers of Patrick also expressed their condolences and offered prayers for his family. Former ESPN commentator Mike Patrick (C) died on Easter Sunday at the age of 80 (Image: Photo by) A fan reflected on their childhood memories, saying, "I grew up watching a lot of 'Sunday Night Football' as a kid and enjoyed Mike Patrick's calls with Joe Theismann in the booth," adding, "One of the best to do it in his field. Thinking of Mike Patrick's family, friends and colleagues." Patrick, who passed away recently, was not only known for his nearly two decades of 'Sunday Night Football' commentary but also for being a staple voice in ESPN's college sports coverage. He called over 30 ACC basketball championships and was a prominent figure in ESPN's Women's Final Four broadcasts from 1996 to 2009. In college football, Patrick lent his voice as the play-by-play announcer for 'Thursday Night Football' and 'Saturday Night Football,' as well as for the College World Series. Reflecting on his extensive tenure at ESPN, Patrick once shared his contentment and gratitude, remarking, "It's wonderful to reflect on how I've done exactly what I wanted to do with my life. At the same time, I've had the great pleasure of working with some of the very best people I've ever known, both on the air and behind the scenes." As he bid farewell to ESPN in 2018, he acknowledged his fulfilling career and cherished colleagues.
Time of India
23-04-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Mike Patrick, veteran ESPN broadcaster and voice of 'Sunday Night Football,' dies at 80
Mike Patrick , a familiar voice to generations of sports fans and one of ESPN 's earliest and most enduring broadcasters, has died at age 80. He passed away on Sunday in Fairfax, Virginia, due to natural causes, according to his longtime physician and friend. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Patrick joined ESPN in 1982, during its formative years, and spent 35 years with the network. He quickly became a prominent voice across multiple sports, most famously anchoring Sunday Night Football from 1987 until the franchise moved to NBC in 2006. During his tenure, he worked with analysts like Roy Firestone, Joe Theismann, and Paul Maguire . 'Mike Patrick called countless significant events over decades at ESPN and is one of the most influential on-air voices in our history,' said Burke Magnus, president of content at ESPN. 'In addition to calling ESPN's first-ever regular season NFL game and voicing the Sunday Night Football franchise, Mike's work on college sports was exceptional.' Beyond Football: A Versatile Sports Voice Patrick's broadcasting reach extended far beyond professional football. He called college football and both men's and women's basketball games for ESPN, becoming a trusted and recognizable presence on marquee matchups , especially those within the Atlantic Coast Conference. He covered over 30 ACC basketball championships and was the voice of ESPN's Women's Final Four from 1996 to 2009. His resume also included more than a decade of work on the College World Series between 2003 and 2014. 'Mike had great energy and a keen knowledge of ACC basketball, and I truly enjoyed sitting next to him calling so many special games over the years,' said longtime colleague Dick Vitale, who affectionately dubbed Patrick 'Mr. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now ACC.' Patrick's final broadcast was the 2017 AutoZone Liberty Bowl. He retired from ESPN the following year in 2018. Humble Beginnings and Lasting Legacy Born in 1944 in Clarksburg, West Virginia, Patrick grew up in the Chestnut Hills neighborhood and graduated from Washington Irving High School. He discovered his passion for broadcasting at George Washington University after stumbling on a campus poster inviting students to join the college radio station, WRGW. 'I went upstairs at 12:30 on a Monday afternoon and said, 'I'd like to be a sportscaster.' They said, 'Oh, we've got a show at 4.' … I had no idea what I was going to do, but I did the show from 4 to 5 that day, and I was hooked,' he recalled in a 2018 interview. After college, Patrick worked in various broadcast roles, including stints as a local sports reporter in Jacksonville, Florida, and Washington, D.C., before joining ESPN. In retirement, he remained a celebrated figure in his hometown. The city of Clarksburg honored him with a commemorative sign on the Second Street Parking Garage ramp. 'Mike Patrick's voice may have fallen silent, but his legacy as one of America's greatest sportscasters and a proud son of Clarksburg will endure,' the city said in a statement. Remembering the Man Behind the Mic Reflecting on his career, Patrick once said: 'It's wonderful to reflect on how I've done exactly what I wanted to do with my life. At the same time, I've had the great pleasure of working with some of the very best people I've ever known, both on the air and behind the scenes.' Mike Patrick leaves behind a legacy of professionalism, passion, and an unmistakable voice that became part of the soundtrack of American sports.
New York Post
23-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Mike Patrick, longtime ESPN broadcaster and ‘Sunday Night Football' voice, dead at 80
Mike Patrick, who spent nearly four decades at ESPN as a broadcaster, died on Sunday. He was 80. The network said Patrick passed away in Virginia from natural causes. Advertisement 'Mike Patrick called countless significant events over decades at ESPN and is one of the most influential on-air voices in our history,' said Burke Magnus, president of content for ESPN. 'In addition to calling ESPN's first-ever regular season NFL game and voicing the 'Sunday Night Football' franchise for 18 seasons, Mike's work on college sports was exceptional. 3 Former ESPN broadcaster Mike Patrick (C) is honored by Duke Senior Associate Director of Athletics Jon Jackson (L) and Duke Deputy Director of Athletics Mike Cragg during the game between the Louisville Cardinals and the Duke Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium on February 21, 2018 in Durham, North Carolina. Getty Images 'For 36 years, he called football and men's and women's basketball, including the Women's Final Four and so many historic matchups between ACC rivals Duke and UNC. Our deepest condolences to Mike's family and his many friends throughout the industry.' Advertisement Patrick, a graduate of George Washington University, started broadcasting in the 1960s and joined ESPN in 1982 after calling games for Maryland's basketball and football teams and preseason contests for Washington's NFL franchise. He was on the call for the channel's first-ever regular season NFL game and was the play-by-play voice of 'Sunday Night Football' from 1987-2005. He was also a prominent fixture for ESPN's college basketball coverage and called at least three dozen ACC men's tournaments while also announcing women's March Madness for 13 years (1996-2009). 3 ESPN announcer Mike Patrick at dinner after Booz Allen Classic Pro Am, Congressional Country club in Bethesda, Maryland on Wednesday, June 8th, 2005. Getty Images Advertisement He called his final game during the 2017 AutoZone Liberty Bowl and officially retired a few months later in 2018. There was an outpouring of memories and tributes from around sports and sports media following the news of his death. 'So sorry to learn of the passing of the great Mike Patrick. Mike was the voice of ACC Basketball when I was a player, and I had the honor of working with him and calling him a friend,' ESPN analyst Jay Bilas wrote on X. 'Mike Patrick was a pro's pro. RIP Mike Patrick.' 3 ESPN television announcers Len Elmore (L) and Mike Patrick pose for pictures dressed in 1980s clothing before the start of a retro night game between the Virginia Cavaliers and the North Carolina Tar Heels in an Atlantic Coast Conference game on February 16, 2005, at the Dean E. Smith Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Getty Images Advertisement 'This is heart breaking,' ESPN colleague Holly Rowe wrote. We spent many wonderful days mostly laughing then sprinkled in calling games. Mike Patrick was always an absolute delight.' I was so saddened to just learn of the passing of MIKE PATRICK – loved working with Mike on many fantastic @theACC hoop games,' Dick Vitale added. 'I called Mike Mr ACC ! My sympathy goes out to his wife Janet.'
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mike Patrick, longtime voice of ESPN's 'Sunday Night Football,' dies at 80
Mike Patrick, a broadcaster who spent more than three decades calling NFL, college football and college basketball games for ESPN, died Sunday, the network announced. He was 80 years old. ESPN said Patrick, who retired in 2018, died of natural causes in Fairfax, Virginia. Advertisement Patrick graduated from George Washington University in 1966, and it was during his time as an aspiring baseball player in college that he discovered broadcasting under humble circumstances, as he recalled in 2018: 'I stumbled across a leaflet on a bulletin board,' Patrick said. 'It said, 'WRGW, the college radio station, needs talk show hosts, newscasters, sportscasters, disc jockeys.' You know, that sounds like fun, and fun was all I ever cared about. 'I was almost thrown out of college for having bad grades…until I saw this sign on the board. I went upstairs at 12:30 on a Monday afternoon and said, 'I'd like to be a sportscaster.' They said, 'Oh, we've got a show at 4.' Really? I had no idea what I was going to do, but I did the show from 4 to 5 that day, and I was hooked. I loved it. To this day, I loved every game that I did, even the bad ones. After graduation, Patrick immediately went into broadcasting for a swath of local television outlets. He reached ESPN in its nascent days in 1982, and soon became one of its signature voices. He got his signature assignment in 1987, when ESPN acquired the rights to air NFL Sunday night games. Patrick would be the play-by-play voice of "ESPN Sunday Night Football" for its entire existence, from Day 1 to its final game in 2005, when the NFL awarded those rights to NBC. Patrick also called more than 30 ACC basketball championships, was the voice of ESPN's Women's Final Four coverage from 1996 to 2009 and handled the College World Series for more than a decade. His longest assignment, though, was college football, with his final assignment the AutoZone Liberty Bowl on Dec. 30, 2017. Advertisement Via ESPN, he retired without many regrets:
