Mike Patrick, legendary voice of Sunday Night Football, dies: What was the cause of death?

Mike Patrick, who spent 36 years as a play-by-play announcer for ESPN, passed away at the weekend at the age of 80.

Patrick died on Sunday in Fairfax, Virginia. News of his passing was first confirmed by his physician and family in Clarksburg, West Virginia. It is reported that Patrick died of natural causes.

He began his iconic play-by-play role with ESPN in 1982 and called his final event—the AutoZone Liberty Bowl—on December 30, 2017. He announced his retirement from ESPN a couple of months later in February 2018.

Mike dedicated an impressive 36 years to sports broadcasting with ESPN, becoming the voice behind many of the most iconic moments in college basketball, football, and beyond. He called over 30 ACC basketball championships, worked alongside legendary commentator Dick Vitale, and anchored ESPN’s women’s basketball coverage from 1996 to 2009.

ESPN start NFL coverage on cable television in 1987

From 1987 to 2005, Patrick was instrumental in the broadcaster’s Sunday Night Football, bringing his signature energy to NFL, college football, and basketball broadcasts. He called ESPN’s first-ever regular-season NFL game in November 1987 - the Patriots against Super Bowl champions the Giants, teaming up with former NFL quarterback Joe Theismann and later Paul Maguire.

For college football, Patrick was the voice for Thursday Night Football and Saturday Night Football, as well as ESPN’s coverage of the College World Series. Reflecting on his career upon leaving ESPN in 2018, Patrick shared, “It’s wonderful to look back on what I wanted to do with my life.”

Mike Patrick: a life in broadcasting

Patrick’s journey in broadcasting began in 1966 at WVSC Radio in Somerset, Pennsylvania. By 1970, he was appointed sports director at WJXT-TV in Jacksonville, Florida, covering the Sharks’ World Football League games (1973–74) and basketball games for Jacksonville University, earning his spot in the university’s Hall of Fame.

In 1975, Patrick transitioned to WJLA-TV in Washington, D.C., serving as a weekend sports anchor and reporter while also calling play-by-play for Maryland football and basketball from 1975 to 1978, as well as Washington’s NFL games from 1975 to 1982.

A graduate of George Washington University, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the US Air Force. His legacy as a dedicated broadcaster and passionate storyteller will undoubtedly endure in the world of sports journalism.

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