Bob Costas has been a prominent figure in American sports broadcasting for over four decades, establishing himself as one of the most respected voices in sports television.
Born Robert Quinlan Costas on March 22, 1952, in New York City, his journey in broadcasting began while he was still a student.
He started his broadcasting career in 1973 at Syracuse University, where he studied communications.
Before completing his degree, he began working as a hockey commentator for the Syracuse Blazers and at an ABC TV .
His first major job came at age 22 when he ed KMOX radio in St. Louis, where he called games for the Spirits of St. Louis basketball team, the St. Louis Blues, the Chicago Bulls, and the Missouri Tigers.
NBC Years
In 1980, at age 28, Costas was hired by NBC Sports, marking the beginning of what would become a legendary 40-year tenure.
During his time at NBC, he became the network’s primary voice for numerous major sporting events:
- Hosted 12 Olympic Games (1988-2016)
- Covered NFL games
- Broadcasted NBA games
- Called baseball games
- Covered boxing matches
- Hosted NASCAR events
- Led golf tournament coverage
The exact total number of individual sporting events that Bob Costas covered over the course of his career at NBC isn’t widely known.
However, it’s safe to assume that over 40-year tenure, he covered thousands of events across multiple sports, with his Olympic coverage (12 Games) and NFL broadcasts being among his most prominent work.
Broadcasting Style and Legacy
Bob Costas’s broadcasting style evolved significantly throughout his career, beginning with a deliberate formality that helped overcome his youthful appearance.
In his early days, the baby-faced broadcaster consciously adopted a more serious demeanour to establish credibility with viewers and colleagues alike.
However, as his confidence grew, so did his ability to blend professionalism with his natural personality, creating a unique broadcasting persona that would define his career.
What truly set Costas apart was his remarkable combination of intelligence, preparation, and versatility.
Blessed with a near-photographic memory, he could seamlessly weave together sports statistics, historical references, pop culture, and current events into his commentary.
This comprehensive knowledge base, coupled with his meticulous preparation for each broadcast, allowed him to excel across multiple formats – from play-by-play commentary to studio hosting, and from long-form interviews to news commentary.
Unlike many of his contemporaries, Costas never shied away from addressing controversial topics or conducting challenging interviews with powerful figures in the sports world, earning him the nickname “the conscience of U.S. sports fans.”
As his career progressed, Costas developed what many consider the perfect balance between entertainment and journalism.
Often compared to Walter Cronkite for his trustworthiness and credibility, he mastered the art of incorporating spontaneity, natural humour, and personal charm into his broadcasts while maintaining his journalistic integrity.
This unique combination of attributes – thorough preparation, vast knowledge, fearless journalism, and engaging personality – earned him unprecedented respect in the industry, culminating in 28 Emmy Awards and a legacy as one of broadcasting’s most accomplished figures.
His ability to evolve while staying true to his core principles of honest, informed commentary set a standard that few broadcasters have matched.
Most Memorable Moments
Over his incredible career Bob Costas has had more than his fair share of memorable moments, many of which led to him to being the iconic figure he is today.
The Sandberg Game (1984)
One of Costas’s most iconic calls came during the “Sandberg Game” on June 23, 1984, where Ryne Sandberg hit two game-tying home runs against Bruce Sutter.
His memorable call “Do you believe it, it’s gone!” became part of baseball lore.
1988 World Series
Though he didn’t call the actual game, Costas considers Game 1 of the 1988 World Series his most memorable moment.
He was in the Dodgers’ dugout when Kirk Gibson hit his famous home run and conducted the post-game interview.
He called it “the most dramatic and theatrical baseball moment I have ever been a part of”.
Jordan’s Last Bulls Game (1998)
Costas called Michael Jordan’s final game with the Chicago Bulls in Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals, where Jordan hit the championship-winning shot.
His call “Chicago with the lead!” captured the historic moment.
Lakers-Trail Blazers (2000)
He memorably called the Kobe Bryant to Shaquille O’Neal alley-oop in Game 7 of the 2000 Western Conference Finals with his succinct “Bryant… TO SHAQ!”.
Derek Jeter’s Farewell (2014)
One of Costas’s final memorable calls was Derek Jeter’s last game at Yankee Stadium for MLB Network, where Jeter hit a walk-off single.
His call “On a walk off hit by Derek Jeter!” provided a fitting end to Jeter’s career.
Notable Achievements
Costas’s broadcasting excellence has earned him numerous accolades throughout his career. In total he has won:
- 28 Emmy Awards
- Eight National Sportscaster of the Year awards
- Four Sportscaster of the Year awards
In fact, he is the only person in television history to win Emmys in sports, news, and entertainment categories.
Why Did He Leave NBC Sports?
Bob Costas’s departure from NBC Sports after nearly 40 years was primarily triggered by his stance on football’s concussion crisis and the network’s response to his criticism of the NFL.
The tension began in 2015 when NBC refused to air Costas’s essay about the movie Concussion, as the network was negotiating a $450 million deal with the NFL for Thursday Night Football rights.
The situation reached a breaking point in 2017 when Costas made public comments at a University of Maryland journalism symposium, stating that football “destroys people’s brains.”
These remarks led NBC to remove him from Super Bowl LII coverage, with executives telling him he had “crossed a line” and wasn’t “the right person to celebrate football”.
Despite initially planning a gradual transition into an emeritus role, Costas’s relationship with NBC became untenable due to the fundamental conflict between his journalistic integrity and NBC’s business interests with the NFL.
The network’s prioritisation of its NFL partnership over Costas’s concerns about player safety ultimately led to his quiet departure in January 2019, ending what had been one of the most successful partnerships in sports broadcasting history.
The Reaction to His NBC Departure
The manner of Costas’s exit was notably strange for someone of his stature.
Despite being NBC Sports’ biggest star with 28 Emmys and eight National Sportscaster of the Year awards, his departure was unusually quiet – there were no fanfare, tributes, or formal goodbyes.
This struck many as odd given his four-decade legacy at the network.
The broadcasting community was particularly interested in the revelation that Costas’s departure stemmed from his stance on NFL concussions.
Many industry professionals viewed the situation as troubling, seeing it as an example of business interests trumping journalistic integrity.
The fact that NBC would part ways with such a respected figure over his comments about football safety generated significant discussion within media circles.
NBC expressed disappointment with how Costas characterised the split, stating: “We’re very disappointed that after 40 years with NBC, he has chosen to mischaracterise and share these private interactions after his departure”.
The network emphasised that they had historically given their commentators significant leeway to speak their minds, and Costas had benefited from this policy more than most.
Despite the controversial nature of his departure, Costas’s reputation remained largely intact.
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He was still widely regarded as “the most-respected broadcaster of his generation, a kind of Walter Cronkite for sports.
His willingness to address uncomfortable truths, even at the cost of his position, actually enhanced his credibility with many observers.
How Much is Costas Worth?
Through his successful broadcasting career, Costas has built substantial wealth. His current net worth is estimated at $50 million.
When he started at NBC in 1979, his initial salary was $100,000 per year. By the time he left NBC, he was earning approximately $7 million annually, with career earnings at NBC estimated around $100 million before taxes.
Who Is Bob Costas Married To?
Costas has been married twice. His first marriage was to Carole “Randy” Randall Krummenacher from 1983 to 2001, with whom he had two children: Keith (born 1986) and Taylor (born 1989).
Both children have followed in their father’s footsteps, winning Sports Emmys as producers.
In 2004, Costas married his second wife, Jill Sutton, and they currently reside in Newport Beach, California.
In 2013, Costas and his wife purchased a $4.7 million property in Newport Coast, California. The home spans 4,500 square feet and includes luxurious amenities such as a saltwater swimming pool, spa, pool house, and a separate cabana.
What Is Bob Costas Doing Now?
In 2017, Costas began stepping away from his main roles at NBC Sports. His final major broadcast for NBC was hosting the 2018 Belmont Stakes, where he witnessed Justify win the Triple Crown.
He officially departed from NBC in January 2019 after 40 years with the network.
Currently, Costas works for TNT Sports, where he does play-by-play and studio work for MLB on TBS and provides commentary on CNN.
He also maintains a role with MLB Network, continuing his connection to baseball broadcasting.