USC All-American Frank Gifford died of natural causes on Sunday at the age of 84 in Greenwich, Connecticut. The former back was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1975 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame just two years later in 1977. The back was a member of the inaugural class of the USC Athletics Hall of Fame in 1994, recognized for his legendary performance during his three-year Trojan career. In his All-American and All-Conference season in 1951, Gifford led USC in total offense, rushing yards and scoring. The running back played 12 seasons as a New York Giant after being selected in the first round of the 1952 NFL Draft. Gifford led his team to five NFL Championship games and one NFL title in 1956, earning him league MVP honors.Â
After Gifford's football career ended, he turned to sports broadcasting where he was best known for his role as a play-by-play announcer on ABC's Monday Night Football from 1971 to 1977 with Howard Cosell and Don Meredith. He is a legend in not only the football community but the broadcast community as well. Many honored Gifford on Sunday including CBS broadcaster Jim Nantz who learned of his passing on air.Â
Gifford is survived by his wife, television personality Kathie Lee Gifford, and his five children and five grandchildren.Â
