Phyllis George blazed a path for women in sports broadcasting as a shining star on 'The NFL Today'
Phyllis George never thought she would become a pioneer for women journalists when CBS Sports approached her in 1974 with an offer to work as a sideline reporter and interviewer for live TV broadcasts.
Not many women were given prominent reporting roles on TV back in the ‘70s, but with her effervescent smile, quick wit and charming personality, George was a perfect fit. Many viewers already knew George, helping build familiarity. The former Texas beauty queen (and diehard Cowboys fan) won the 1971 Miss America Pageant, which drew more than 80 million viewers.
Her initial months reporting for CBS Sports were a little choppy, but George was learning on the job. After demanding producers provide her with a clearer vision of how to succeed on camera, George flourished. She became adept at interviewing athletes and didn’t shy away from asking tough questions. George also wasn’t afraid to laugh at herself, and her interviewing style helped bridge a personal connection from star athlete to viewer watching from home. She brought empathy and warmth to sports that her male counterparts couldn’t. George didn’t claim to possess an encyclopedic knowledge of the NFL, but she knew how to connect with people.
It’s ludicrous now, but back in the mid-1970s, the Baltimore Sun was shockingly surprised a woman could do so well reporting sports in the paper’s review of George.
“A surprisingly competent broadcaster,” the Sun wrote. “Articulate and bright and clever enough to realize what she was hired for.”
Capitalizing on George’s early success, and hoping to attract more women viewers, CBS Sports executives hired her to co-host “The NFL Today,” TV’s first hour-long pre-game show. Anchoring alongside Brent Musburger and Irv Cross, George spent three seasons on the show. She was thrust onto the national spotlight and was criticized for not having a formal education and training in broadcasting. But the natural chemistry she shared with co-hosts and ease she showed in her job was undeniable. Regardless, George left “The NFL Today” after the 1977 season, replaced by Jayne Kennedy. A contract dispute ended Kennedy’s run as co-anchor and George returned in 1980.
In an interview with USA Today in 1999, George said, “When you’re first, you’re a pioneer. I felt they didn’t know who Phyllis George was. They played me up as a former Miss America, a sex symbol. I can’t help how I look, but below the surface, I was a hard-working woman. If I hadn’t made that work, women eventually would have come into broadcasting, but it would have taken them longer.”
George really hit her stride in the early 1980s but there were still detractors. One of them, Jimmy “The Greek” Snyder, sat alongside her every Sunday. CBS Sports hired the controversial Snyder as an analyst, and he quickly found a target to pick on: George. However, George had no time for Snyder’s chauvinistic attitude. When it was time to renegotiate her contract, she told her bosses she would re-sign, but wanted to make sure “The Greek’s” role on the show was downgraded. George got her wish.
Full of energy and vigor, George had bigger dreams to pursue. In 1984, she left the sports desk for a job co-hosting “CBS Morning News.” It wasn’t the ideal fit. The role also was taxing on her young family. George left the news program after only eight months to spend more time raising her two children. She was married to former Kentucky governor John Y. Brown Jr. from 1979-1998.
While her time at CBS wasn’t always an easy ride, George paved the way for many women in sports television. George battled a blood disorder for many years before passing away in the spring of 2020. After she died at age 70, ESPN’s Hannah Storm sent out a tweet thanking George for her professionalism and guidance.
“A true pioneer who approached her job with enthusiasm, empathy and humor,” wrote Storm.
Following George’s lead, ESPN not only hired women for reporting roles, but also prominent positions hosting the network’s flagship show, “SportsCenter.” In the 1980s and ‘90s, along came Robin Roberts, Linda Cohn, and Suzy Kolber who opened the door for many women “SportsCenter” anchors (including Storm) through the past two decades. In the NFL in particular, women have seen their TV time increase in the past several years. While some networks have been painfully slow to place women in analyst roles, hosts such as Charissa Thompson, Laura Rutledge, Samantha Ponder, Kay Adams, and Maria Taylor have all shined on daily or weekly national football programs.
In recent years, ESPN’s Mina Kimes and Fox Sports’ Joy Taylor have shown their chops as NFL analysts and commentators. Expect more talented women to join their ranks in the near future. No doubt George would smile thinking about the advancements women have made in NFL broadcasting.
ESPN especially has been at the forefront in providing opportunities for women. In 2017, the network’s Beth Mowins was the first woman to provide play-by-play for an NFL game in 30 years. Growing up, she watched George on CBS, and it sparked an idea, which turned into a passion.
“It mattered when I turned on the TV and there was a woman talking about football,” Mowins said in an interview with TheFootballGirl.com. “That’s what I was drawn to. I like sports, and I like talking so the two blended together perfectly.”
While it was the opportunity of a lifetime, Phyllis George took a risk when she dove headlong into sports broadcasting almost five decades ago. She broke down barriers and stood tall in a largely male-dominated world. Most importantly, George bravely blazed a trail for generations of women to follow.