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Legendary ESPN Broadcaster Mike Patrick Dies at 80

The iconic voice of Sunday Night Football and college sports passed away of natural causes in Fairfax, Virginia, leaving a legacy that spanned nearly four decades.

Mike Patrick, sportscasting, 1944-2025
Feb 6, 2008, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; ESPN announcer Dick Vitale and Mike Patrick get ready before the game between the North Carolina Tar Heels and Duke Blue Devils at the Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
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Overview

  • Mike Patrick, a trailblazing play-by-play announcer, spent 36 years at ESPN starting in 1982 and retired in 2018 after calling his final game, the Liberty Bowl.
  • He was the lead voice of ESPN's Sunday Night Football for 18 seasons, beginning in 1987, and called the network's first-ever regular-season NFL game that same year.
  • Patrick's contributions extended to college sports, including over 30 ACC basketball championships, the Women's Final Four from 1996 to 2009, and the College World Series.
  • A native of Clarksburg, West Virginia, Patrick began his broadcasting career in 1966 and was later honored by his hometown for his achievements.
  • Tributes have poured in from colleagues, fans, and the sports community, celebrating his impact on sports media and his unmistakable voice that defined countless iconic moments.