Sports Announcer Tom Brookshier Dies
The Philadelphia Eagles star-turned-broadcaster was 78.
Tom Brookshier, a star defensive back for the Philadelphia Eagles who became a successful broadcaster after a broken leg ended his football career, died January 29, 2010, at Lankenau Hospital in Philadelphia, from complications of cancer. He was 78.
A native of New Mexico, Brookshier played college football at the University of Colorado. He began his professional career when the Eagles selected him in the 10th round of the 1953 NFL draft.
In his rookie season, Brookshier intercepted eight passes in 12 games. He then left the league for two years to fulfill his ROTC obligations in the U.S. Air Force.
He returned to the Eagles in 1956 at the age of 25. The team won the league championship in 1960, and the following year, when Brookshier was just 30 years old, his career ended when he fractured his leg during a game against the Chicago Bears.
His transition into television occurred almost immediately when he joined the local CBS affiliate, WCAU-TV. There, he worked with Hall of Fame broadcaster Jack Whitaker.
When CBS paired Brookshier with another former football star, Pat Summerall, a onetime rival who played for the New York Giants, the duo became a formidable on-air team.
In the 1970s, they were the No. 1 NFL broadcast team for CBS, and worked three Super Bowls together. The partnership lasted until 1981, when CBS brought in John Madden to handle the color commentary opposite with Summerall.
Brookshier became a play-by-play announcer and remained at CBS until 1987.
In addition to his wife, Barbara, Brookshier is survived by two daughters, a son and a granddaughter.