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Sportscasting Pioneer Phyllis George Passes Away at 70

Phyllis George, a trailblazer in sports journalism and football broadcasting who joined CBS' The NFL Today as a co-host in 1975, has died at age 70.

George's passing was a result of complications from a blood disorder, her ex-husband and former Kentucky governor John Brown Jr. told the Louisville-Courier Journal.

George won the Miss America pageant in 1971 before moving to broadcasting in 1974 when she was hired by CBS, becoming the first female sportscaster to work at a major television network.

In 1975, she became the co-host of CBS' popular pregame show, The NFL Today, joining Brent Musburger, Irv Cross and, eventually, Jimmy "The Greek" Snyder.