Dan Dierdorf Retirement: ‘I Really Have Lived The Dream’

Dan Dierdorf, the much loved NFL broadcaster and All-Pro star of the 1970s, announced today that he will retire from NFL broadcasting at the end of this season.

Having enjoyed an illustrious career on the field, Dierdorf spent 30 seasons broadcasting football, amounting to a total of 43 years in the NFL.

Dierdorf, age 64, was named All-Pro an impressive six times during his time with the St Louis Cardinals as an offensive lineman. He then worked as an analyst for ABC, and will retire from his current post with CBS Sports.

Dierdorf was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame back in his days on the field in 1996. He also won the Pete Rozelle Radio-Television award in 2008 for broadcasting.

Sean McManus, the chairman of CBS Sports, said about the Dan Dierdorf retirement announcement:

For 43 NFL seasons, Dan Dierdorf has been a consummate professional both on the field and in the broadcast booth. Very few people in any profession can boast a Hall of Fame playing career and Hall of Fame broadcasting career. Dan, without question, is one of them. His CBS Sports family will miss him on Sundays, but we wish him all the best in his retirement.

Dan Dierdorf released this statement about his retirement:

I have been blessed to spend my entire life in the game I love. I had an opportunity to go from the field directly to the broadcast booth, where I have had the privilege of working with the giants of our business, including Ray Scott, Lindsey Nelson, Jack Buck, Dick Stockton, Al Michaels, Frank Gifford, Verne Lundquist, Dick Enberg and, lastly, my partner, Greg Gumbel. It has become a challenge for me to travel to a different NFL city every week, so it’s time to step aside. This has been a wonderful ride as I really have lived the dream.

It remains to be seen whether this will mean full retirement for Dan Dierdorf, as he is well known for being a lover of football. Will he just make guest appearances from time to time and enjoy his retirement or will he still be active in the world of NFL Football? Share your opinion in the comments feed below.