Phyllis George has sadly passed away. She was 70-years-old.
Phyllis died on Thursday (May 14) from complications from a blood disorder, her ex-husband, former Kentucky Gov. John Brown Jr., told the Louisville Courier-Journal.
“Phyllis was a great asset to Kentucky,” Governor Brown shared. “We had a great partnership. I think we enjoyed every single day.”
Phyllis won the Miss America pageant back in 1971. She then became the first female sportscaster to work at a major TV network when she was hired at CBS in 1974.
A year later, Phyllis joined the CBS pregame show The NFL Today, which she co-hosted until 1984.
“The CBS Sports family is deeply saddened by the passing of Phyllis George, an icon in the sports broadcasting industry who contributed greatly to the rich history and tradition of CBS Sports,” Sean McManus, chairman of CBS Sports, said in a statement. “Phyllis was not only a key member of a show that remains the gold standard of NFL pregame shows, the NFL Today with Brent, Irv and ‘The Greek,’ but also a pioneer for all women in broadcasting.”
Our thoughts are with Phyllis George’s loved ones during this difficult time.
