Bob Trumpy

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Trumpy played college football at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and then transferred to the University of Utah. He was selected by the Bengals in the 12th round (301st overall) of the 1968 NFL/AFL draft. After his playing career, he became a broadcast color analyst, calling four Super Bowls and receiving the Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award in 2014.

In Their Own Story

After retiring as a player, Trumpy's broadcasting career flourished. He began with radio work at WTAX in Springfield, Illinois, in 1964 before joining WCKY and later NBC Sports in 1978. At NBC, he worked alongside legends like Sam Nover, Bob Costas, Don Criqui, and Dick Enberg, calling Super Bowls XX, XXI, XXVII, and XXVIII. Beyond football, he covered three Ryder Cups and the Olympics. His impact extended beyond sports; on November 10, 1983, while hosting a WLW-AM talk show, he spoke with a suicidal woman for over two hours until her son provided an address, leading to her rescue by Forest Park police. This act of compassion required him to seek therapy later. He also hosted a weeknight sports show on WLW from 1980 to 1989 and was named Ohio Sports Broadcaster of the Year four times before leaving for more NBC assignments.

Reader's Guide

Trumpy was known for his broadcasting career with NBC, calling AFC games and later serving as lead NFL analyst. He also hosted a sports talk show on WLW-AM in Cincinnati and was Ohio Sports Broadcaster of the Year four times.

Did You Know?

• Trumpy was a two-time AFL All-Star and two-time NFL Pro Bowler.
• He caught a memorable 29-yard touchdown pass on a flea flicker in a 1977 game against the Miami Dolphins.
• In 1983, he talked a despondent caller out of suicide during his radio show.