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Football Hall of Famer Dan Dierdorf to retire from broadcasting

Dan Dierdorf, shown in a 2012 file photo, announced Wednesday he is retiring from the broadcast booth. Dierdorf, 64, played in the NFL for 13 seasons and has been broadcasting games for 30 more. UPI/Bill Greenblatt
Dan Dierdorf, shown in a 2012 file photo, announced Wednesday he is retiring from the broadcast booth. Dierdorf, 64, played in the NFL for 13 seasons and has been broadcasting games for 30 more. UPI/Bill Greenblatt | License Photo

NEW YORK, Nov. 20 (UPI) -- Dan Dierdorf, who had a 13-season Pro Football Hal of Fame career in the NFL, said Wednesday he is retiring after 30 years of broadcasting football.

Dierdorf, 64, began as a broadcaster in 1984, the season after he retired as an NFL player. He first worked as a color analyst for radio broadcasts on KMOX, St. Louis. He handled play-by-play for CBS television in 1985 and was on ABC's "Monday Night Football" from 1987-98.

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He rejoined CBS after that and has been with CBS Sports for 14 years. He currently works with Greg Gumbel on the network's NFL coverage.

"I have been blessed to spend my entire life in the game I love," Dierdorf said. "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.

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"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."

Dierdorf played for the St. Louis Cardinals from 1971-83 and was inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1996. He was named to the NFL Team of the Decade for the 1970s. Dierdorf was three times selected the top offensive lineman in the NFL and was named to the Pro Bowl six times.

Dierdorf won the 2008 Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award, which is given by the Pro Football Hall of Fame in recognition of "long-time exceptional contributions to radio and television in professional football."

Gifford, John Madden and Len Dawson are the only other Pro Football Hall of Fame members to have also received the Rozelle Award.

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