Bob Trumpy, a notable tight end who transformed the position during his 10 years with the Cincinnati Bengals and later became a well-known sports broadcaster, died at 80 on Sunday, November 2, 2025. His passing occurred at his home, surrounded by his family. While the cause of death was not disclosed, a friend and colleague indicated he had experienced a heart attack recently.
Originating from Illinois, Trumpy was among the original members of the Bengals when they entered the American Football League in 1968, being chosen in the 12th round of the NFL-AFL draft. His impressive first game on September 15, 1968, coincided with the Bengals’ inaugural victory, a 24-10 win over the Denver Broncos at Nippert Stadium. The rookie caught four passes for 114 yards, including the franchise’s first receiving touchdown on a 58-yard pass from quarterback John Stofa.
Bengals president Mike Brown, who had known Trumpy since the team’s founding, commended his outstanding dual career. “He was an exceptional and rare tight end who could get downfield and split zone coverages,” Brown stated Sunday. “Speed was his hallmark. He was as fast as any wide receiver and was a deep threat. That was rare for a tight end then, and it’s rare now.”
Standing 6-foot-6 and weighing 228 pounds, Trumpy had the speed and agility typical of a wide receiver, despite playing tight end. Under the guidance of Bengals wide receivers coach Bill Walsh, who would later lead the San Francisco 49ers to three Super Bowl victories, Trumpy became a significant challenge for opposing defenses. Walsh used him throughout the formation, not just next to the tackle, marking a strategic shift that would influence football tactics for years.
Trumpy’s impact was evident with four all-star selections—AFL All-Star honors in 1968 and 1969, and NFL Pro Bowl selections in 1970 and 1973. In 1969, he was named first-team All-Pro after recording 37 receptions for 835 yards and nine touchdowns. Over his career from 1968 to 1977, Trumpy amassed 298 receptions for 4,600 yards and 35 touchdowns. His 15.4 yards per reception average remains a record for Bengals tight ends.
Trumpy grew up on a farm near Tremont, Illinois, before moving to Springfield, Illinois, as a high school sophomore. At Springfield High School, he excelled in multiple sports, leading the basketball team to the state tournament in 1961 and 1962. He also won gold in the long jump at the 1963 state track and field meet and tied for fifth in the high jump. His mother encouraged him to play football, frustrated with him being idle at home.
After graduating in 1963, Trumpy played one season at the University of Illinois in 1964, where he was teammates with future Hall of Fame linebacker Dick Butkus. He led the Illini with 28 receptions for 428 yards and two touchdowns. Following surgery on his hand and a stint in the Navy during the Vietnam War, he transferred to the University of Utah, where he played in 1966 before being drafted by Cincinnati.
Trumpy’s broadcasting career started while he was still playing. His “Sports Talk” radio show on Cincinnati’s WLW-AM became a regional hit, with the station’s general manager later attributing the station’s success to Trumpy. Brown highlighted the show’s influence and noted Trumpy’s role in launching the broadcasting careers of other former Bengals like Dave Lapham and Cris Collinsworth, who went on to become notable broadcasters, with Collinsworth working on Sunday Night Football.
During a Sunday Night Football broadcast, Collinsworth acknowledged Trumpy’s influence, mentioning that Trumpy helped him secure his broadcasting role in Cincinnati. Collinsworth described Trumpy as having a distinctive laugh that put everyone at ease and recognized him as a significant figure in the city.
From 1978 to 1997, Trumpy served as an NFL analyst for NBC, then moved to Westwood One radio from 2000 to 2007. His distinctive baritone voice, which producer Bill Dennison called “the voice of God,” became known to national audiences as he called four Super Bowls and three Olympics. His broadcasting extended to golf, including three Ryder Cups, with a memorable moment at the 1993 Ryder Cup at The Belfry in England as he stood with American Raymond Floyd and heard the cheers for Nick Faldo’s hole-in-one.
In 2014, Trumpy was honored with the Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award from the Pro Football Hall of Fame for his significant contributions to sports broadcasting. He credited his early radio work for teaching him the principles of responsibility and preparation that guided his broadcasting career.
Brown emphasized Trumpy’s accomplishments across various fields. “As a broadcaster, he made his mark both locally and nationally, and excelled at sports other than football in a career that was as successful as what he accomplished on the field,” he said. “He did it all very well, and I regret his passing.”
