All My Dowdy Friends are Here on Monday Night

Frank Gifford, Chuck Bednarik’s favorite tackling dummy, has died at the age of 84. Gifford played 12 seasons for the New York Giants, earning the 1956 MVP en route to leading the Giants to the NFL Championship, his only win in 5 tries. He also missed 18 months when a hard tackle by Bednarik forced a temporary retirement. He brought his distinctive monotone to Monday Night Football, where his 1950s blandness offered a welcome respite from the distinct personalities of Dandy Don Meredith and Howard Cosell. ABC eventually spread his gaffes into their Olympics coverage and Wide World of Sports. Gifford’s playing career also was notable for throwing 6 interceptions, tied for the most by a non-QB in NFL history. Not all his passes went for naught, as in 1997, the Globe thought that getting a video of an NFL broadcaster cheating on his wife with an ex-stewardess was worth $100,000 and set him up, effectively ending his broadcasting career. Unfortunately, it did not have the same effect on his wife Kathie Lee’s.