The Enduring Legacy of the Late Phyllis George: A Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame Sit-Down

After the postponement of the physical Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame ceremony in New York City, we honored the nine-person class during a virtual discussion back in December. In this conversation, SVG Editorial Director Ken Kerschbaumer speaks with industry trailblazer Lesley Visser about the late Phyllis George, who passed away on May 14, 2020. During this chat, Visser describes a few anecdotes from George’s career, how they both overcame scrutiny and adversity together, and her lasting legacy that is still felt in the sports-production industry today.

George broke through as a sportscaster in 1974 and, the following year, joined the team of The NFL Today. She played a key part of the show for the next three years, and again from 1980-84. She was an inspiration to a generation of women who followed her on air — changing sports broadcasting forever.