Gary Danielson did not exactly get the perfect ending that he had been hoping for.
The longtime college football commentator Danielson called the final game of his illustrious broadcasting career on Wednesday before his retirement. Danielson was on the call for CBS as Arizona State battled Duke during the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas.
After the game (which Duke won by a final score of 42-39), Danielson delivered an emotional sign-off. Flanked by his broadcast partners Brad Nessler and Jenny Dell, Danielson reflected on his career as a tribute video played and production members and other colleagues bid farewell to Danielson.
Unfortunately though, CBS ended up completely botching the landing. As Danielson was delivering some final remarks, the network abruptly cut to commercial, spoiling the final sign-off of Danielson’s career. Here is the video.
CBS cut away from Gary Danielson’s final goodbye…
— Unnecessary Roughness (@UnnecRoughness) December 31, 2025
unreal pic.twitter.com/hToDuaz8K1
While a staffer could be seen in the background counting down the seconds with her fingers until the cut, CBS was absolutely skewered over social media for the decision to abruptly end Danielson’s final sign-off. Take a look.
CBS really cut to commercial on that sign-off from Gary Danielson? Absolutely despicable where we are and what gets prioritized.
— John Flesta (@jflesta) December 31, 2025
I would’ve really liked to have heard the rest of Gary Danielson’s speech.
— Jared Palmgren (@CFF_Jared) January 1, 2026
Shame on @CBSSports for cutting him off.
CBS cutting off Gary Danielson during his goodbye speech is brutal.
— juice (@orangejuice_865) December 31, 2025
Not the biggest Gary fan, as a matter of fact I don’t like him, but no doubt he’s a legend and super disrespectful and a bad look on CBS
Cutting off Gary Danielson of all people CBS needs to apologize immediately. Absolutely pathetic company
— ElliottFan24/9 (@Elliottfan92) December 31, 2025
Shame on @CBS for cutting off the end of Gary Danielson talking. I know he was about done but let him finish.
— Adam Kadavy (@adamk63) December 31, 2025
The 74-year-old Danielson, a former NFL quarterback, had been a broadcaster since 1990 and had been with CBS Sports as their lead college football analyst since 2006. Danielson’s original partner in the booth for CBS was Verne Lundquist (who retired in 2024) and then Danielson later teamed up with Nessler.
An undisputed icon of the college football world, Danielson had called some of the most famous games of the 21st century for CBS. But viewers certainly felt that Danielson did not get the respect he deserved with that abrupt cut to commercial by the network in the middle of his very last sign-off.
