Legendary broadcaster Keith Jackson retires
BRISTOL, Connecticut (Ticker) - Keith Jackson has signed off for the last time.
The legendary voice of college football over the last 40 years, Jackson retired on Wednesday.
“The people at ABC and ESPN did everything they could to bring me back, but sometimes you know when to hang it up and I felt it was time,” Jackson said. “I appreciate their efforts, but I am looking forward to being the shop steward of the international porchsitters’ union this fall.”
In addition to serving as the primary voice of college football since 1967, the 77-year-old Jackson also was the voice of “Monday Night Football” in its inaugural season of 1970 and has called NBA and Major League Baseball games as well.
“Keith Jackson is a man of great character and a legendary broadcaster,” ESPN and ABC Sports president George Bodenheimer said. “For decades, his unmistakable style defined college football for millions of fans. While we hate to say goodbye, we understand his decision and wish him the very best.”
Jackson originally planned to retire after the 1998 college football season but decided to return to the broadcast booth, focusing his announcing duties on West Coast games. This retirement appears to be for real.
“We very much wanted Keith to return for what would have been his 40th season,” vice president of ESPN and ABC Sports Norby Williamson said. “When he expressed to us that he was considering retirement, we repeatedly tried to convince him otherwise, but completely respect his decision.
“As it turns out, it’s fitting that Keith’s final game call was the 2006 Rose Bowl, an historic event where Keith was right where he belonged - as the great narrator skillfully articulating the drama for a captivated audience. We are forever grateful.”
Jackson’s final game was Texas’ thrilling 41-38 victory over Southern California in the Rose Bowl for the national championship on January 4.
In 1999, Jackson was awarded the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame Gold Medal - its highest honor - and named to the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame, the first broadcaster accorded these distinguished honors. Another first for Jackson was the Amos Alonzo Stagg Award from the American Football Coaches Association, and he was named National Sportscaster of the Year five successive times by the National Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association.
Jackson’s career highlights include 10 Winter and Summer Olympics, in which he covered the two greatest gold medal winners in the history of the Olympic Games. In 1972, Mark Spitz won seven gold medals in swimming and in 1980, Eric Heiden won five individual gold medals in speedskating.
Jackson has worked 11 World Series and League Championship Series in baseball, NBA games in the 1960s and 1970s and auto racing - NASCAR, USAC and Formula One—including seven Grand Prix of Monaco races.
