As a player Pat Summerall was best known as the kicker for the New York Giants. His career ended before the first Super Bowl, but he was there. He was on the broadcast team for total of 16  “Big Games.” 

Serving in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, he attended boot camp at Fort Jackson, South Carolina in January 1951. 

While still serving in the U.S. Army Reserve, he played Arkansas Razorback Football at defensive end, tight end and kicker. While there he earned a bachelor's degree in education. He would later go on to earn a Masters in Russian History.

In the National Football League, he was drafted by the Detroit Lions, but traded to the Chicago Cardinals after his first year. 1958 to 1961 he played for the New York Giants, appearing in three championship games. 

For his first two years in New York, Vince Lombardi was the team’s offensive coordinator, while Tom Landry coach the defense. In 1960 both coordinators left to the teams where they would become NFL Legends. New York’s championship loss in 1961 was to Vince Lombardi’s Green Bay Packers.

Retiring after the 1961 season, he joined CBS as a color commentator.

In 1981, Summerall was paired with Super Bowl XI winning Raiders coach, John Madden. They would stay together for 22 seasons, first announcing the Super Bowl in 1982. Summerall played the “straight man” to the energetic Madden, who quickly became a broadcasting legend. 

Madden would often pick an “All Madden Team.” Made up of players he liked for their zeal and bulk. For instance,  in 1985, Madden chose 7 nose tackles on defense, and another defensive lineman, the 330-pound William “Refrigerator” Perry to play wide receiver. Often, Summerall was chosen as the team’s kicker, a position largely devoid of the hard-nosed players Madden valued. 

Summerall also hosted the US Open Tennis Tournament for 25 years.
Since 2006, The Pat Summerall Award has been presented to a broadcaster who “demonstrated the character, integrity and leadership both on and off the job that the name Pat Summerall."

The end of Summerall and Madden's last game together (SB 36) can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWPwBFCGKQE

In 2013, while awaiting hip surgery, Summerall had a heart attack and died. 
Pvt. George Allen “Pat” Summerall is interred at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery. He was 80 years old. 

Received award from Former President Ford

Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery

george allen pat summerall jr's Profile Picture

A life of service and dedication to family, faith and country.

GEORGE ALLEN PAT SUMMERALL JR

Service

PVT

Resting Place

Mementos

Tributes

Word Cloud

undefined

Milestones

Mementos

Historical Documents

Veteran programs and services

More VA resources

Get VA updates

In crisis? Get help now

Contact us