The game of football has its share of thrills—a touchdown run, a great catch, a fierce tackle. Your quarterback running on that 4th down play, dying to hit the mark as every defender is vying for his blood. However, in the world of broadcasting, all these moments are etched in our memories thanks to some people in the booth. Who deliver the perfect words for perfect moments. Even the sounds they make, an ‘Ohhh’ or a ‘Nooo’ add to the viewing experience. One of those voices just said goodbye to broadcasting.
Gary Danielson, the veteran presence and former NFL player, announced his retirement on March 26 after 36 years of broadcasting. Danielson was a force to be reckoned with amidst the drowning voices of presenters. He had knowledge and substance—a combination only a few broadcasters can achieve on-air. As he puts his mic to rest, he will retire to family life after giving his best to gridiron football.
With Gary Danielson now set to bid us adieu as the current football season ends, he’s giving us a lot to look back on. He said in a CBS statement, “I have had the greatest seat in the house for 36 years and have loved every minute of it. I have discussed the timing of this moment with CBS Sports leadership over the past few years and we felt it was important I remained with the team during our transition to the Big Ten. As we enter our second full season of Big Ten football and my 20th at CBS Sports, the timing just feels right.”
Gary Danielson announced his retirement as CBS Sports’ lead college football analyst following the 2025 season, at which time he will be succeeded by Charles Davis. pic.twitter.com/UqsFPibBU8
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 26, 2025
Well, a legendary figure like Gary Danielson has thousands of stories to share about the game. Hopefully, we’ll hear more from him in the future. For now, let’s introduce you to the people behind the scenes. Let’s start with his family.
Coming to family, he has quite an interesting story of how he met his wife, Kristy Jeanne Danielson. You wouldn’t guess how far beyond his reach she was when they met. But their marriage is undoubtedly a wholesome and fulfilling one. Because it is absolutely like the saying: happy wife, happy life. Here’s what we know about Kristy Danielson.
How did Gary and Kristy Danielson meet?
Straight out of a Hollywood rom-com, Gary and Kristy met each other while they were at Purdue. Now, it’s normal for players to be in relationships with women who also study at their colleges. But Kristy was no average Purdue student, even if she tried to be modest. She was the daughter of George King, head coach of the Boilermakers basketball team and the athletic director. It’s easy to say Kristy was way out of Gary’s league.
But the duo did make it through despite these heavy stakes. Gary married Kristy right after college in 1973, and they have already stood with each other for 50 long years and counting. Gary, after Purdue, went pro and played for the CFL and NFL before beginning his stalwart career as a commentator. This was all with Kristy by his side. Not much is known about Kristy’s life since the whole family lives away from the public eye.
Who was Kristy Danielson’s father?
George King played some glorious years of collegiate and pro basketball and was a pioneer coach at Purdue. He stepped in as the program’s athletic director in 1971 and also held the position of head basketball coach until 1972. Under his leadership, Purdue saw new heights in athletics. He also went on to serve as the president of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and chaired two NCAA committees. He passed away in 2006, aged 78, with a glorious life that still serves as an inspiration for Purdue sports.
Kristy’s life seems to be surrounded by sports right from the get-go. She is the eldest of King’s four children. Unfortunately, Kristy has lost a sister to a heinous crime. She has two more siblings: Kerry Jo and Gordon Scott.
Gary and Kristy Danielson’s children
The couple shares four children together. The eldest is Matt Danielson. Matt followed in his father’s footsteps and played a brief collegiate football career. He had some stellar records at the high-school level at Rochester, where he won but was unfortunately redshirted. He also played for UNLV later on, but not much is known of that stint.
The couple also had a daughter named Kaity. Unfortunately, Gary and Kristy lost her in 1980, when she was just 9 days old, due to medical issues. That was a storm the couple had to withstand. ECelebrityMirror reports that Gary went on to play against the Packers three days afterward and won the game, too.
Gary and Kristy also have three daughters: Kelly, Tracy, and Molly Morgan. ECelebrityMirror reports that Kelly is a realtor, and all three daughters have happy families of their own. In all, Gary and Kristy are grandparents to 14 grandchildren. We just know the Danielson house will be full of joy and liveliness during family gatherings! Here’s to Gary Danielson and a happy and relaxing retirement with Kristy and the rest of his large family.
The post Who Is Gary Danielson’s Wife Kristy? Meet the Daughter of Purdue’s Ex-Basketball Head Coach & Mother of Four appeared first on EssentiallySports.