CBS cut away from Gary Danielson’s retirement goodbye after 20 years at network

Gary Danielson’s 20-year run at CBS — and his 36-year one as a legendary college football announcer — ended with a bit of a hiccup.

The network cut off an emotional goodbye at the end of his final broadcast before retirement following the Sun Bowl between Duke and Arizona State on Wednesday, with Danielson’s final comments — alongside play-by-play broadcaster Brad Nessler, sideline reporter Jenny Dell and members of their production staff — getting interrupted by a CBS advertisement.

In the right corner of the frame, a hand counted down the final seconds of air time for the tribute, and Danielson, the six-time Emmy nominee, turned toward his producer and said, “Sometimes you can say, how do you get off? This guy right here.”

And moments later they were indeed, ironically, off the air.

It provided a sour ending to what otherwise was a wholesome tribute for the former undrafted quarterback who embarked on an 11-year NFL career — with the Lions and Browns — before shifting into broadcasting.

Danielson, Nessler and Dell reflected on photos and memories through his broadcasting career, including some with iconic CBS voice Verne Lundquist.

“Everybody says, ‘What do you want to be remembered as?’ That’s cool, but it’s what I want to remember. And this is the stuff I remember,” Danielson said during tribute as they reflected on the pictures.

Gary Danielson, pictured in the center, had his final broadcast with CBS on Dec. 31. Screengrab via X/@awfulannouncing

Then, the camera zoomed out to reveal other members of the production crew next to the trio, and the broadcast cut to the truck and camera people inside the El Paso stadium as Danielson acknowledged their role in his career.

“To have done it with somebody that is unmatched in what you do has been a privilege,” Nessler said. “It’s been an honor. I’m going to miss you. Our team’s going to miss you. Our crew’s going to miss you. CBS is going to miss you. And damn it, college football’s going to miss you, buddy.”

CBS announced Danielson’s intention to retire at the end of the 2025 college football season in March, ending a two-decade run at the network that began after he left ESPN and ABC.

Charles Davis, who previously worked with the network’s No. 2 NFL pairing alongside Ian Eagle, will replace Danielson as the lead college football analyst.