Irv Cross
Encyclopedia
Irvin Acie "Irv" Cross is a former professional American football
cornerback
and sportscaster
.
by the Philadelphia Eagles
in the seventh round of the 1961 NFL Draft
. In 1966
he was traded to the Los Angeles Rams. Then in 1969
, he returned to the Eagles and became a player/coach. He retired from play in 1970
, when he became a coach for the Eagles.
from 1971, when he became the first African-American to work full-time as a sports analyst on national television, to 1994. In addition to his work on CBS' NFL
coverage (including co-anchoring The NFL Today
from its inception in 1975
through 1989
), Cross called NBA basketball, track and field, and gymnastics at various times for the network. He served as athletic director at Idaho State University
from 1996 to 1998.
Cross was the Director of Athletics at Macalester College
, St. Paul, Minnesota until May 2006. He was the CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Minnesota until May of 2010 and is back to football commentary for the Twin Cities' Fox
station KMSP-TV
.
Irv Cross was the 2009 recipient of the Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award
. The award, given annually by the Pro Football Hall of Fame
, recognizes "long-time exceptional contributions to radio and television in professional football."
. His wife Liz, is also a Co-CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Minnesota. He also has two adult daughters from a previous marriage.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
cornerback
Cornerback
A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
and sportscaster
Sportscaster
In sports broadcasting, a commentator gives a running commentary of a game or event in real time, usually during a live broadcast. The comments are normally a voiceover, with the sounds of the action and spectators also heard in the background. In the case of television commentary, the commentator...
.
Playing career
Cross was draftedNFL Draft
The National Football League Draft is an annual event in which the National Football League teams select eligible college football players and it is their most common source of player recruitment. The basic design of the draft is each team is given a position in the drafting order in reverse order...
by the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the seventh round of the 1961 NFL Draft
1961 NFL Draft
The 1961 National Football League Draft took place on December 27–28, 1960. The league would later hold an expansion draft for the Minnesota Vikings expansion franchise, and the Vikings were also awarded the first selection position in this draft. This draft was also the first regular draft for...
. In 1966
1966 NFL season
The 1966 NFL season was the 47th regular season of the National Football League, and the season after which was played Super Bowl I, though it was called the AFL-NFL World Championship Game. The league expanded to 15 teams with the addition of the Atlanta Falcons, thus an odd number of teams...
he was traded to the Los Angeles Rams. Then in 1969
1969 NFL season
The 1969 NFL season was the 50th regular season of the National Football League, and the last one before the AFL-NFL Merger. To honor the NFL's 50th season, a special anniversary logo was designed and each player wore a patch on their jerseys with this logo throughout the season.As per the...
, he returned to the Eagles and became a player/coach. He retired from play in 1970
1970 NFL season
The 1970 NFL season was the 51st regular season of the National Football League, and the first one after the AFL-NFL Merger.The merger forced a realignment between the combined league's clubs. Because there were 16 NFL teams and 10 AFL teams, three teams needed to transfer to balance the two new...
, when he became a coach for the Eagles.
After football
Cross was employed as an analyst and commentator for CBS SportsCBS Sports
CBS Sports is a division of CBS Broadcasting which airs sporting events on the American television network. Its headquarters are in the CBS Building on West 52nd Street in midtown Manhattan, New York City, with programs produced out of Studio 43 at the CBS Broadcast Center on West 57th Street.CBS...
from 1971, when he became the first African-American to work full-time as a sports analyst on national television, to 1994. In addition to his work on CBS' NFL
NFL on CBS
The NFL on CBS is the brand name of the CBS television network's coverage of the National Football League's American Football Conference games, produced by CBS Sports.-Market coverage and television policies:...
coverage (including co-anchoring The NFL Today
The NFL Today
The NFL Today is an American sports series that precedes the American football program The NFL on CBS on CBS Sports. The program usually airs at noon on Sundays of the National Football League regular season...
from its inception in 1975
1975 NFL season
The 1975 NFL season was the 56th regular season of the National Football League. It was also the first time that featured an entire season with no games ending in a tie. The league made two significant changes to increase the appeal of the game:...
through 1989
1989 NFL season
The 1989 NFL season was the 70th regular season of the National Football League. Before the season, NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle announced his retirement...
), Cross called NBA basketball, track and field, and gymnastics at various times for the network. He served as athletic director at Idaho State University
Idaho State University
Idaho State University is a public university located in Pocatello, Idaho. It has outreach programs in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho Falls, Boise, and Twin Falls....
from 1996 to 1998.
Cross was the Director of Athletics at Macalester College
Macalester College
Macalester College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It was founded in 1874 as a Presbyterian-affiliated but nonsectarian college. Its first class entered September 15, 1885. The college is located on a campus in a historic residential neighborhood...
, St. Paul, Minnesota until May 2006. He was the CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Minnesota until May of 2010 and is back to football commentary for the Twin Cities' Fox
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
station KMSP-TV
KMSP-TV
KMSP-TV, channel 9, is the Fox-owned-and-operated television station serving the Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Minnesota designated market area, owned in a duopoly with MyNetworkTV affiliate WFTC...
.
Irv Cross was the 2009 recipient of the Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award
Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award
The Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award, created in 1989 and named for the late longtime NFL commissioner, is bestowed annually by the Pro Football Hall of Fame "for longtime exceptional contributions to radio and television in professional football". Unlike the Baseball Hall of Fame's comparable...
. The award, given annually by the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
, recognizes "long-time exceptional contributions to radio and television in professional football."
Personal
Cross has two children Matthew, 22, and Sarah, 20, who is attending Saint Paul CollegeSaint Paul College
Saint Paul College, Minnesota is a community and technical college located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It was founded in 1910 and has about 7,500 full-time and part-time students.It was formerly known as St. Paul Technical College...
. His wife Liz, is also a Co-CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Minnesota. He also has two adult daughters from a previous marriage.