- Became the first Black announcer to do the National Football League, serving commentator and analyst as swell as the host of the NFL Today network show. His broadcast career spanned 1971-94.
- Received a bachelor of science degree from Northwestern University in 1961. He was in the same graduating class as future NFL Today co-host Brent Musburger.
- Played defensive Cornerback for the Philadelphia Eagles (1961-65) and the Los Angeles Rams (1966-68) before returning to Philadelphia as a player coach for the 1969 season; opting for full time coaching for the 1970 season, again with the Eagles. .
- When he retired as a player, Dallas Cowboys executive Gil Brandt offered him a job as the team's assistant general manager but he declined.
- Was recruited to Northwestern by coach Ara Parseghian. He starred at football and track and field and was named the university's Male Athlete of the Year as a senior.
- Was diagnosed with mild cognitive dementia due to his football concussions and will donate his brain to Boston University, hoping to further the study of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a brain illness linked to concussions.
- Served as CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Minnesota.
- After leaving CBS he served as athletic director at Idaho State (1996-98) and Macalester College (1999-2005) in Minnesota.
- Was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the seventh round of the 1961 NFL Draft.
- 8th of 15 children, his father was a steelworker and his mother died in childbirth when Cross was 10.
- Graduated from Hammond High School in Hammond, Indiana where he won the Male Athlete of the Year award.
- During his tenure with CBS he covered the NFL, track and field, gymnastics and the NBA.
- In 2017 he published his memoir "Bearing the Cross, My Inspiring Journey From Poverty To The NFL And Sports Television.".
- Has three daughters, Susan, Lisa, and Sandra, one son, Matthew, and one grandson.
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