He did the cable network’s play-by-play for college basketball, football and baseball games, but his most important assignment was “Sunday Night Football.”

BRISTOL. Conn. (AP) — Mike Patrick, ESPN’s first play-by-play announcer for its NFL coverage, has died. He was 80. Patrick’s physician and longtime friend sent a text to friends of the longtime announcer that Patrick passed away in Fairfax, Virginia, on Sunday due to natural causes.