Pat Summerall Quotes

Powerful Pat Summerall for Daily Growth

About Pat Summerall

Pat Summerall (June 10, 1929 – January 16, 2013), an American sports announcer, football player, and actor, was known for his distinctive baritone voice and professionalism that graced the airwaves for over four decades. Born in Coffeyville, Kansas, Summerall excelled in multiple sports during his high school years but focused on football, receiving a scholarship to Arkansas Tech University. His professional athletic career began when he was drafted by the New York Giants in 1952 as a placekicker and linebacker. Injuries cut short his playing days after just four seasons, leading him to a new career in broadcasting. Summerall's first job in sports media was with CBS Radio, covering college football games. In 1962, he joined CBS Television as a backup for announcer Ray Scott and quickly became the primary play-by-play voice for NFL games when Scott retired in 1975. From 1974 to 1993, Summerall partnered with John Madden on CBS's NFL broadcasts, establishing one of the most successful announcing teams in sports history. In 1989, he moved to Fox Sports to work alongside Madden again, where he continued his career until retiring in 2004. During this time, Summerall also worked on golf and tennis broadcasts for CBS. Throughout his career, Pat Summerall received numerous awards, including 18 Emmy Awards. He was inducted into the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame in 1992 and the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 2003. His influence extended beyond sports broadcasting, as he appeared on shows like The Simpsons and Family Guy, voicing himself. Pat Summerall's legacy lives on through his extensive work in sports broadcasting, where he embodied professionalism, knowledge, and a love for the game that resonated with millions of viewers. His famous quote, "That's fantastic football," became synonymous with exciting moments in NFL history.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Victories at the end of the day are won with good, sound football, blocking and tackling."

This quote emphasizes that the foundation for winning in football (and life) lies in fundamentals such as effective blocking and tackling. It suggests that while flashy plays or strategies can be appealing, consistent execution of basic skills is crucial to achieving long-term success.


"That's a heckuva play."

The phrase "That's a heckuva play" is an expression of admiration and praise for an exceptional, impressive, or extraordinary play in sports. It conveys the speaker's excitement, appreciation, and recognition for the skill, talent, and determination shown by the athlete. Essentially, it means "wow, that was a fantastic move!" or "what a great play!". The phrase originated from American football commentator Pat Summerall and has been widely used in sports broadcasting since.


"Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway."

This quote emphasizes perseverance and the importance of pursuing one's dreams, regardless of the amount of time required for their realization. It suggests that instead of letting the passage of time deter us from our goals, we should view time as a constant factor and focus on making progress towards achieving our dreams. In essence, it encourages the reader to keep striving and never abandon their aspirations due to perceived delays or challenges.


"Football is a game of inches, and as they say, the margin between winning and losing can be as small as the head of a pin."

This quote emphasizes the narrow difference that often exists between victory and defeat in football, suggesting it's decided by minor details or "inches." It highlights the importance of focusing on even the smallest aspects of the game to gain an edge over opponents, as success can sometimes hinge upon seemingly insignificant elements.


"The only way to do great work is to love what you do."

This quote by Pat Summerall emphasizes that genuine passion for one's work or endeavor is essential in achieving greatness. It suggests that pursuing tasks or goals without a deep-rooted love or enthusiasm may not yield remarkable outcomes, as the effort might seem forced, lack dedication, and ultimately fail to inspire excellence. Instead, one should choose a path where they can find joy, curiosity, and fulfillment, allowing them to consistently produce exceptional work and make meaningful contributions in their field.


Seemed like everything I tried to do in broadcasting and as a player before that turned out successfully. I was succeeding. I got to the top of the heap in every facet of broadcasting.

- Pat Summerall

Successfully, Turned, Seemed, Heap

In football, there were drinks available everywhere you looked. On a golf tournament, you could find one free anywhere you wanted it. In tennis and NBA basketball, everybody had a hospitality suite, and so you could go there and load up if you wanted to.

- Pat Summerall

Everybody, Drinks, Available, Suite

I've done a lot of Super Bowls and appeared in a lot of big, big events and places and the Masters and what have you, but there was nothing as intimidating as speaking with Billy Graham.

- Pat Summerall

Big, Nothing, Billy, Intimidating

So, I didn't get moved up because of celebrity status or anything like that. I got in line, and I passed the test. And they realized that I was sick enough, and as soon as the liver became available, I got one.

- Pat Summerall

Celebrity, Test, Became, Status

But like Mrs. Ford, I think that the more people realize what a difficult and what an insidious disease it is, the sooner people will start to correct that situation.

- Pat Summerall

Think, Disease, I Think, Insidious

When someone saves your life and gives you life, there's gratitude, humility; there's a time you've been so blessed you realize you've been given another chance at life that maybe you did or didn't deserve.

- Pat Summerall

Deserve, Been, Given, Realize

There were a couple of things in the intervention that made me know I needed help. One was a letter from my daughter saying that she was ashamed she had the same last name as I did, which will shock you a little bit.

- Pat Summerall

Needed, Couple, Had, Letter

My MELD score was pretty high. And the worse you get on that scale, the sooner you get a transplant. It's based on how sick you are. And believe me, I was pretty sick.

- Pat Summerall

Pretty, Sooner, Based, Transplant

I know I had been successful in football. I had been successful in broadcasting. I didn't think that anything could touch me. I thought, I can beat anything.

- Pat Summerall

Thought, Think, Been, Broadcasting

Well, to take me from where I was, and the life I was leading, to the life I lead now with the church and with the Lord and with Jesus Christ, it's a total, total turn-around.

- Pat Summerall

Church, Jesus Christ, Christ, Lead

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