The sports world is absolutely gutted, y’all. Longtime NBC broadcaster Dan Hicks, a voice so many of us grew up listening to, passed away suddenly on Thursday at 64 after an acute illness. His family confirmed the devastating news, and it’s just a gut punch to everyone who ever tuned in.
A Voice That Defined Decades of Big Moments
Dan Hicks wasn’t just *a* broadcaster, he was *the* broadcaster for so many of sport’s biggest stages. He started his career at CNN but landed at NBC Sports in 1992, becoming one of their most prominent voices. Since 2000, he was the lead announcer for their golf coverage, practically the soundtrack to every major golf moment for the last two decades. Think about it, the guy anchored weekend coverage for The Players Championship for nearly 30 years and was on the mic for the whole FedExCup evolution. He was there for the major championships, bringing this incredible steady delivery, unmistakable enthusiasm, and just a perfect ability to capture the significance of a moment. For almost twenty years, he was paired up with Johnny Miller, a broadcast partnership that was legendary.
But Hicks wasn’t just golf. Since 2013, he called a ton of Notre Dame games, too. And man, if you watched the Olympics, you knew his voice. He was on the call for both the Summer and Winter Games, known especially for his electrifying calls of swimming and alpine skiing events. NBC Sports said it best: he was an “exceptional storyteller and caller of games and events who elevated some of the biggest moments in sports history,” adding that his “blend of knowledge, style, enthusiasm and humor informed and entertained fans for decades.” Seriously, 34 years at NBC, that’s a legacy.
“Truly One of a Kind”
This loss hits different, especially when you hear the words from those closest to him. His wife, longtime ESPN anchor Hannah Storm, shared the news on social media, and her statement just broke your heart. “Our family is heartbroken by the sudden and unexpected passing of Dan following an acute illness,” she wrote. They were married for over 30 years and had three daughters. Can you even imagine? She said his loss was “immeasurable.”
Hannah painted a picture of a man who was “truly one of a kind and, quite simply, the person everyone wanted to be around.” She said he walked into a room and “brought the energy, the laughter and the people together.” He was “endlessly kind, thoughtful and funny,” and he genuinely “made everyone feel like they mattered.” That’s the kind of person you remember, right? It’s not just about the calls, it’s about the man behind the microphone.
The whole sports world is mourning. The PGA Tour put out a lengthy statement honoring him, and the Fighting Irish did the same. Losing a voice like Dan’s, one that brought so many of us closer to the biggest sports moments for decades, truly leaves an immeasurable void. Our thoughts are with his family and everyone who knew him.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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