Don Criqui

Early Life and Education

Don Criqui was born on October 1, 1940, in Buffalo, New York, and grew up in the nearby suburb of Kenmore. He received his secondary education at St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute in Kenmore before enrolling at the University of Notre Dame. Following his university studies, Criqui served in the United States Air Force Reserve. His foundational years in the Buffalo area and his education at Notre Dame, a school with a storied football tradition, laid the groundwork for his future career in sports broadcasting.

Broadcasting Career

Criqui began his network broadcasting career with CBS in 1967, quickly establishing himself as a play-by-play announcer for NFL games. In a notable 1979 move, he was effectively traded by CBS to NBC Sports in exchange for fellow broadcaster Curt Gowdy. Criqui spent nearly two decades at NBC, becoming a prominent voice for the network's NFL and college football coverage. When CBS regained broadcast rights to the NFL in 1998, Criqui rejoined the network and remained a key part of its NFL broadcast team until his retirement from that role after the 2012 season. He made a final one-game return to CBS on December 8, 2013, calling a New England Patriots victory over the Cleveland Browns when the scheduled announcer was stranded by a winter storm.

Beyond the NFL, Criqui's versatile career included play-by-play for a wide array of sports across multiple networks. His assignments included college basketball, the American Basketball Association, the National Basketball Association, the National Hockey League, professional golf and tennis tournaments, Triple Crown horse racing, and the Canadian Football League. He also provided commentary for several Summer Olympics events during his tenure with NBC. Criqui's final network assignment was with CBS Sports from 1998 until 2013, where he covered the NFL, women's and men's college basketball, and college football.

Notable Calls and Career Highlights

Over his long career, Don Criqui was the voice behind many of American football's most memorable moments. His most famous college football call was the 1984 Orange Bowl, where the undefeated Nebraska Cornhuskers, on a 22-game winning streak, lost 31-30 to the Miami Hurricanes after a failed two-point conversion in the game's final minute. In the NFL, one of his earliest calls was Tom Dempsey's record 63-yard field goal for the New Orleans Saints on November 8, 1970. He also called the 1978 Miracle at the Meadowlands, the 1982 Epic in Miami, and the 1980 AFC playoff game known as Red Right 88. In college basketball, Criqui is remembered for calling the last-second upset by St. Joseph's over top-seeded DePaul in the 1981 NCAA Tournament. For NBC Radio, he provided play-by-play for two Super Bowls, XX and XXI, alongside analyst Bob Trumpy.

Don Criqui holds the record for longest-tenured NFL broadcaster in U.S. television history, calling NFL football for 47 consecutive seasons from 1967 to 2013 on NBC and CBS. He also had a long career calling college football, including 11 Orange Bowl games while with NBC. From 2006 until 2017, Criqui served as the football radio play-by-play voice for the University of Notre Dame, his alma mater. His most recent network assignment was with CBS Sports from 1998 until 2013, where he called the NFL, college basketball and college football.

• Radio voice for Notre Dame football (2006 to 2018)
• Play-by-play for New England Patriots preseason games (1995 to 2012) with analyst Randy Cross
• Called 14 Orange Bowl games for NBC
• Part-time TV announcer for the New York Mets (1991)
• Hosted weekend editions of Inside Edition
• Sportscaster on WOR and WNBC radio in New York

Other Media and Spokesperson Roles

Outside of live game coverage, Criqui engaged in numerous other media projects that broadened his public profile. For many years, he was the key spokesperson for Trans World Airlines, starring in a widespread advertising campaign with the tagline You're Gonna Like Us that ran from 1978 to 1984. In radio, he served as a sportscaster on WOR New York's Rambling with Gambling show and on WNBC's Imus in the Morning program. Criqui also hosted weekend editions of the newsmagazine Inside Edition. His regional sports work included a stint as a part-time television announcer for the New York Mets in 1991. From 1995 to 2012, he was the familiar play-by-play voice for New England Patriots preseason football telecasts, first on Boston's WCVB-TV and later on WBZ-TV, often working alongside analyst Randy Cross.

Notre Dame and College Football Legacy

Criqui maintained a deep connection to the University of Notre Dame throughout his career. From 2006 until 2017, he served as the football radio play-by-play voice for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on the Notre Dame IMG Sports Network, a role he held for 12 seasons. His college football broadcasting legacy is particularly tied to the Orange Bowl, where he called 14 games while with NBC. Many of these broadcasts had national championship implications, including games that decided the title for the 1981, 1983, 1984, 1985, and 1987 seasons. Criqui called a wide variety of major sporting events beyond football during his network tenures.

• NBA and ABA basketball
• NHL hockey
• Professional golf and tennis tournaments
• Triple Crown horse racing
• Canadian Football League games
• Summer Olympics events for NBC

Honours and Recognition

Don Criqui's contributions to sports broadcasting have been formally recognized by several institutions. In 2003, he was honoured with the Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award from the Pro Football Hall of Fame, an award that recognizes exceptional contributions to radio and television in professional football. He is also an inductee of the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame, celebrating his roots and achievements. These honours affirm his status as one of the most respected and enduring voices in the history of American sports media, a career built on consistency and a talent for describing key moments in live sport.

Personal Life

Don Criqui has resided in Essex Fells, New Jersey, for many years. He was married to his wife, Molly, for over six decades until her passing on June 2, 2024, at the age of 82. Together, they raised a large family, having four sons and one daughter, and the couple also enjoyed the company of fifteen grandchildren. Criqui's long and stable family life paralleled his enduring professional career, both marked by significant longevity and dedication that defined his personal and public legacy.

Questions about Don Criqui

For which networks did Don Criqui work?

Don Criqui worked for two major American broadcast networks during his career. He started with CBS in 1967 before moving to NBC Sports in 1979. He returned to CBS in 1998 when the network regained NFL broadcast rights and remained there until his retirement from regular NFL duties after the 2012 season. Throughout his tenures at these networks, he also did work for other outlets like ESPN and was a longtime voice for New England Patriots preseason games on local Boston television stations.

What was Don Criqui's most memorable broadcast call?

One of Don Criqui's most memorable broadcast calls was for the 1984 Orange Bowl between undefeated Nebraska and the Miami Hurricanes. With Nebraska on a 22-game winning streak, the game came down to a failed two-point conversion attempt by the Cornhuskers in the final minute, giving Miami a 31-30 victory. Criqui's call of that dramatic finish is often cited as a career highlight. In the NFL, his call of Tom Dempsey's record 63-yard field goal in 1970 is also famously associated with him.

What was Don Criqui's connection to Notre Dame?

Don Criqui's connection to Notre Dame is both personal and professional. He is an alumnus of the University of Notre Dame. Professionally, he served as the radio play-by-play voice for Notre Dame Fighting Irish football games on the Notre Dame IMG Sports Network for 12 seasons, from 2006 until 2017. This role made him the primary broadcaster for one of the most famous college football programs in the United States, connecting him directly with its vast fan base.

What is Don Criqui famous for?

Don Criqui is famous as an American sportscaster who holds the record for the longest tenure as an NFL broadcaster in U.S. television history, calling games for 47 consecutive seasons from 1967 to 2013 on NBC and CBS. He is also renowned for his extensive college football coverage, including calling 14 Orange Bowl games for NBC, several of which decided the national championship. He served as the radio play by play voice for Notre Dame football from 2006 to 2018. His career includes memorable calls like the 1984 Orange Bowl and Tom Dempsey's record 63 yard field goal in 1970.

Did Don Criqui call any Super Bowls?

Yes, Don Criqui called two Super Bowls. He served as the play by play announcer for Super Bowl XX and Super Bowl XXI for NBC Radio, working alongside analyst Bob Trumpy. These broadcasts were part of his long tenure with NBC Sports, which began in 1979. His role in these major events highlights his prominence in network sports broadcasting during that era, complementing his extensive work on regular season and playoff NFL games throughout his career.

What awards has Don Criqui won?

Don Criqui has won prestigious awards for his broadcasting contributions. In 2003, he was honoured with the Pete Rozelle Radio Television Award from the Pro Football Hall of Fame. This award recognizes exceptional contributions to radio and television in professional football. He is an inductee into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame, acknowledging his roots and achievements as a native of Buffalo, New York. These accolades celebrate his decades of service and well-known voice in sports broadcasting.

Sources and further reading

• Don Criqui (Wikipedia)
• Don Criqui (buffalosportshallfame.com)
• The Rev. Arthur S. Harvey, C.S.C., Award - 2020: Don Criqui '62 (my.nd.edu)
• ORANGE BOWL ANNOUNCES DON CRIQUI AS 2024 ... (orangebowl.org)

Checked by the Yadude Books desk. Last updated 2026-11-04.