Irv Cross

Irv Cross (1939–2021) played cornerback in the NFL after starring at Northwestern. Philadelphia selected him in the seventh round of the 1961 draft, and he spent six of his nine professional seasons with the Eagles before a stint with the Los Angeles Rams and a final return to Philadelphia. A two-time Pro Bowl selection, Cross transitioned to broadcasting while still playing, joining CBS in 1971 as the first African-American sports analyst on national television. He co-hosted the network's NFL Today pregame program and remained with CBS until 1994. The Pro Football Hall of Fame awarded him the Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award in 2009.