While I did name Dierdorf as “Worst Game Analyst” for the 2013 season in the 7th Annual Fang’s Bites NFL TV Awards, there is no denying his impact on the NFL on television. He has been on either CBS or ABC dating back to 1985 following his retirement from the St. Louis Cardinals in 1983. He worked at his craft to become of the better analysts in the game, starting with CBS in 1985 as first a play-by-play man, then forging a strong “B” team with Dick Stockton in 1986, moving to ABC’s Monday Night Football for 12 seasons with Al Michaels and Frank Gifford leaving that network in 1998.
When he returned to CBS for the 1999 season, he became a very good solo analyst first with Verne Lundquist, then working with Dick Enberg from 2000 through the 2006 and then working with Greg Gumbel in 2006. Dan has had some slippage over the years and it’s probably a sign that he stayed a bit too long, but there’s not too many who when he decided to go into the booth to fully throw himself into his craft.
In addition to being an analyst, Dierdorf was a sports anchor for the CBS affiliate in St. Louis, was a morning radio host and also an investor in one of the city’s sports radio stations. Starting in the late 1980’s and throughout his tenure with ABC, he was the network’s main boxing voice calling fights with Alex Wallau and he was quite good at calling the sweet science. During his second stint with CBS, he stayed mainly with the NFL, but he and Enberg did call the Army-Navy game in 2001.
Here’s a brief video from CBSSports.com in which Dierdorf expresses his love of the game and having no regrets upon leaving the network.
We have this CBS press release which contains a couple of quotes from Dierdorf and one from his boss, Sean McManus, Chairman of CBS Sports.
AFTER 43 CONSECUTIVE YEARS IN NFL, CBS SPORTS’ DAN DIERDORF CALLS HIS FINAL GAME ON SATURDAY IN PRIME TIME
After 43 consecutive years in the National Football League as a Hall of Fame player for the St. Louis Cardinals and Hall of Fame broadcaster for CBS Sports and ABC Sports, Dan Dierdorf will call the final game of his broadcasting career on Saturday, Jan. 11 (8:00 PM, ET) in prime time as the AFC South Champions and No. 4-seeded Indianapolis Colts (12-5) play the AFC East Champions and No. 2-seeded New England Patriots (12-4).
Dierdorf called his first game for THE NFL ON CBS on Sunday, Sept. 15, 1985 serving as the play-by-play announcer alongside analyst Jean Fugett for the Minnesota Vikings-Tampa Bay Buccaneers game. Dave Dinkins was the producer and current NFL TODAY director Bob Matina directed the game.
Following are excerpts from the conference call on January 7.
(On Dan Dierdorf calling his final game)
SEAN McMANUS, Chairman, CBS Sports: One of the great privileges of my career has been being able to work with Dan. I just literally hung up the phone with Roger Goodell, who is going to travel up to Foxborough, for among many reasons, to spend some time with Dan at his last game. We both agreed that there has never been a better person associated not just with the NFL, but with any sport…If you want to talk about someone who has been an ambassador and been a symbol for what the NFL represents at its best that person is Dan Dierdorf.
(On his retirement from 30-year broadcasting career after a 13-year playing career)
DIERDORF: It’s hard to believe that this is my last game Saturday night, but wow, what a way to go. All I ever wanted to do was to work at CBS Sports. As a player I would look up at that banner, and Pat Summerall and Tom Brookshier would be up there in the booth. I would think to myself, ‘Wow, I would love for an opportunity to try and do that.’ What a way to go out with New England and Indianapolis.
(On career after broadcasting)
DIERDORF: Physically it’s just hard for me to travel 20 weeks a year and do my job the right way. I tell everybody, I’m retiring I’m not expiring. I’ve got to find something to do. I love the NFL, and I love the game of football. Whether it’s radio just something that doesn’t involve me having to go to the airport every Thursday or Friday and be gone for three or four days. I’m going to find something to do and you haven’t heard the last of me I hope.
Dan Caesar of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch has this lengthy article on Dan’s retirement featuring quotes from Dierdorf, former partner Michaels, McManus, and Gumbel.
Very rarely do people leave networks on their own terms and Dierdorf was able to do that before being pushed. And while he has requested to go out quietly in the night, expect some type of tribute from CBS after the Indianapolis-New England game on Saturday. It’s a bit fitting that Dierdorf’s last game is in primetime.
