Jim Simpson was a sportscaster best known for his work on NBC and ESPN. He worked for NBC from 1964 to 1979 and handled broadcasts for both the American Football League and the NFL, including the play-by-play for the first Super Bowl on NBC Radio.
In 1979, Simpson left NBC for ESPN, where he was often partnered with on-air analyst Dick Vitale for college basketball games, including the first NCAA contest ESPN aired. The network was still brand new at the time, and Simpson’s years of experience gave the channel credibility.
He also worked for ABC, CBS and TNT over the course of his career, and covered events including 14 Olympic games, 14 Wimbledon championships, six Super Bowls, six World Series and 16 baseball All-Star Games.
Jim Simpson was a sportscaster best known for his work on NBC and ESPN. He worked for NBC from 1964 to 1979 and handled broadcasts for both the American Football League and the NFL, including the play-by-play for the first Super Bowl on NBC Radio.
In 1979, Simpson left NBC for ESPN, where he was often partnered with on-air analyst Dick Vitale for college basketball games, including the first NCAA contest ESPN aired. The network was still brand new at the time, and Simpson’s years of experience gave the channel credibility.
He also worked for ABC, CBS and TNT over the course of his career, and covered events including 14 Olympic games, 14 Wimbledon championships, six Super Bowls, six World Series and 16 baseball All-Star Games.
Simpson got his start in Washington, D.C., where he worked for local radio and TV stations. In 1997, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Sports Emmys, and in 2000 he was inducted into the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Hall of Fame.
Simpson died January 13, 2016, in Scottsdale, Arizona. He was 88.
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