Sports Broadcasting Legend Mike Patrick Dead At 80

A legendary ESPN play-by-play announcer for 36 years, Mike Patrick has sadly passed away due to natural causes. He died Sunday at 80 years old.

Both the City of Clarksburg, West Virginia and Patrick’s doctor confirmed his death Tuesday.

In 1982, Patrick began his career, eventually obtaining a level of fame when he became the official voice of “Sunday Night Football” on ESPN. For 18 years, Patrick served in that position. (RELATED: Cincinnati Football’s Jeremiah Kelly Unexpectedly Dies At 18)

He started his “SNF” role in 1987, holding that gig until 2005. Alongside Patrick in the booth was Joe Theismann, an ex-quarterback in the NFL, who was followed by Paul Maguire.

Patrick also had notoriety when it came to his broadcasting duties in the realms of college football and basketball, doing so for the four-letter network.

When it came to college hoops, Patrick’s fame mainly came as being the voice for the Women’s Final Four on ESPN, which started in 1996 and lasted all the way to 2009.

ESPN remembers play-by-play commentator Mike Patrick

Patrick served as a voice on the network for 36 years (1982-2018) & called some of the most significant events in ESPN’s history

More on Patrick: https://t.co/Pr8SY56Xuq pic.twitter.com/J8b91qXTRY

— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) April 22, 2025

Patrick did college football play-by-play on ESPN‘s “Thursday Night Football” and “Saturday Night Football.”

“It’s wonderful to reflect on how I’ve done exactly what I wanted to do with my life,” said Patrick after he retired in 2018. “At the same time, I’ve had the great pleasure of working with some of the very best people I’ve ever known, both on the air and behind the scenes.”