Bob Costas

Costas is the son of a Greek father, John George Costas, and an Irish mother, Jayne Costas (née Quinlan). He grew up in Commack, New York, and attended Commack High School South.{{cite web |last1=Vaccaro |first1=Chris |title=Costas, Bob |url=https://www.suffolksportshof.com/bobcostas/ |publisher=Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame |access-date=21 March 2023 |date=2 June 2019}}{{cite news |last1=Buchner |first1=Bill |title=Legendary Sportscaster Bob Costas Remembers His Long Island Childhood |url=https://www.wshu.org/news/2019-05-20/legendary-sportscaster-bob-costas-remembers-his-long-island-childhood |access-date=21 March 2023 |work=WSHU-FM |date=20 May 2019 |language=en}}

He attended the S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University,{{cite web |title=Bob Costas: 50 Forward: Newhouse School Syracuse University |url=https://50forward.syr.edu/honoree/bob-costas/ |access-date=21 March 2023}} but dropped out in 1974.{{Cite web |last=Powell |first=William |date=2013-07-19 |title=Q&A: A Conversation With Bob Costas |url=https://www.stlmag.com/St-Louis-Magazine/August-2013/Q-A-A-Conversation-With-Bob-Costas/ |access-date=2023-07-18 |website=www.stlmag.com |language=en-us}} Costas got his first radio experience as a freshman at WAER, a student run radio station.{{cite magazine |last=Taaffe |first=William |title=The Voices from Syracuse |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1984/03/12/the-voices-from-syracuse |access-date=21 March 2023 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |volume=60 |issue=11 |date=March 12, 1984}} In the mid-1980s, he established the Robert Costas Scholarship at the Newhouse School, of which the first recipient was Mike Tirico in 1987.{{cite news |last1=Dabbundo |first1=Anthony |title=NBC broadcaster, Syracuse University alumnus Mike Tirico receives sports media award |url=https://dailyorange.com/2017/11/nbc-broadcaster-syracuse-university-alumnus-mike-tirico-receives-sports-media-award/ |access-date=23 December 2021 |work=The Daily Orange |date=15 November 2017}}

While studying communications in college, Costas began his professional career in 1973, at WSYR-TV{{efn|Not to be confused with the present-day WSYR-TV.}} (now WSTM-TV) and WSYR-FM radio in Syracuse. He called for the minor league Syracuse Blazers of the Eastern Hockey League.{{cite news |last1=Croyle |first1=Johnathan |title=That time Bob Costas met Mickey Mantle, and 3 other stories with a Syracuse twist |url=https://www.syracuse.com/life-and-culture/g66l-2019/01/7fb61994635060/a-look-at-some-past-connections-between-bob-costas-and-syracuse.html |access-date=21 March 2023 |work=Syracuse Post-Standard |date=16 January 2019 |language=en}}{{Cite magazine|last=David|first=Marc|date=2002|title=Sportscaster U|url=http://surface.syr.edu/sumagazine/vol19/iss2/11/|magazine=Syracuse University Magazine|language=en|volume=19 |issue=2 |page=33}}

After leaving school in 1974, he joined KMOX radio in St. Louis. He covered games of the American Basketball Association (ABA).{{Cite web|title=Bob Costas (Interview)|url=https://www.remembertheaba.com/abaarticles/ballantiniinterviewcostas.html|date=April 20, 1999}} Costas would call Missouri Tigers basketball and co-host KMOX's Open Line call-in program. He did play-by-play for Chicago Bulls broadcasts on WGN-TV during the 1979–1980 NBA season.[http://www.fuzzymemories.tv/screen.php?c=786&m=xxwgnxx&p=2 "WGN Channel{{nbsp}}9—Chicago Bulls Basketball With Bob Costas (Promo, 1979)"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303174213/http://www.fuzzymemories.tv/screen.php?c=786&m=xxwgnxx&p=2 |date=March 3, 2016 }}. The Museum of Classic Chicago Television. Retrieved August 5, 2012.[http://www.fuzzymemories.tv/screen.php?c=1093&m=xxwgnxx&p=1 "WGN Channel{{nbsp}}99—Chicago Bulls Vs. Seattle SuperSonics (Opening, 1979)"]{{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303233242/http://www.fuzzymemories.tv/screen.php?c=1093&m=xxwgnxx&p=1 |date=March 3, 2016 }}. The Museum of Classic Chicago Television. Retrieved August 5, 2012.

In 1980, Costas was hired by NBC. Don Ohlmeyer, who at the time ran NBC's sports division, told 28-year-old Costas he looked like a 14-year-old.{{cite news |last=Higgins|first=Bill|date=February 6, 2017 |title=Hollywood Flashback: In 1980, Bob Costas Was the (Baby) Face of NBC Sports|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hollywood-flashback-1980-bob-costas-was-baby-face-nbc-sports-975666|work=Hollywood Reporter}}

For many years, Costas hosted NBC's National Football League (NFL) coverage and National Basketball Association (NBA) coverage. He also did play-by-play for NBA and Major League Baseball (MLB) coverage. With the introduction of the NBC Sports Network, Costas also became the host of the new monthly interview program Costas Tonight.{{cite magazine|last=Sands|first=Rich|title=Channel Changing: Versus Becomes NBC Sports Network|url=http://www.tvguide.com/News/Versus-NBC-Sports-1041158.aspx|magazine=TV Guide|access-date=January 1, 2012}}

On March 30, 2015, it was announced that Costas would join forces with Marv Albert (blow-by-blow) and Al Michaels (host) on the April 11, 2015, edition of NBC's primetime PBC on NBC boxing series.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.si.com/more-sports/2015/03/30/marv-alberts-al-michaels-bob-costas-katie-nolan-garbage-time|title=Marv Albert, Al Michaels, Bob Costas to join forces for a broadcast|last1=Deitsch|first1=Richard|date=March 30, 2015|magazine=Sports Illustrated}} Costas was added to serve as a special contributor for the event from Barclays Center in Brooklyn. He would narrate and write a feature on the storied history of boxing in New York City.{{cite web |last1=DeFrank |first1=Sean |title=Bob Costas joining Al Michaels, Marv Albert for PBC on NBC |url=https://www.premierboxingchampions.com/news/bob-costas-joining-al-michaels-marv-albert-pbc-nbc |website=premierboxingchampions.com |date=March 31, 2015 |publisher=PREMIER BOXING CHAMPIONS |access-date=August 18, 2019}}

Costas hosted NBC's coverage of the U.S. Open golf tournament{{cite news| author = Yoder, Matt | date = June 18, 2012 |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/17/us-open-fan-webb-simpson-trophy-costas-video_n_1604552.html |title=U.S. Open Fan Interrupts Webb Simpson Trophy Presentation, Bob Costas Interview (Video) | work = The Huffington Post |access-date= August 5, 2012}} from 2003 to 2014.{{cite web | last=Thomas | first=Mike | title=Bob Costas Made Tons of Money on TV Ever Since His Baseball Coach Told Him He Couldn't Hit His Weight | website=Sportscasting | date=2020-04-29 | url=https://www.sportscasting.com/news/bob-costas-made-tons-of-money-on-tv-ever-since-his-baseball-coach-told-him-he-couldnt-hit-his-weight/ | access-date=2024-07-29}}

For baseball telecasts, Costas teamed with Sal Bando{{cite web |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120322&content_id=27505084&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb |title=At 60, Costas Remains at Top of His Game—MLB Network Commentator's Talent, Love for Baseball Unmatched |author=Kalb, Elliott |date= March 22, 2012 | work= MLB.com |access-date= August 5, 2012}} (1982), Tony Kubek (from 1983 to 1989), and Joe Morgan and Bob Uecker (from 1994 to 2000). One of his most memorable broadcasts occurred on June 23, 1984 (in what would go down in baseball lore as "The Sandberg Game").{{cite web |author=Neil on |url=http://chicagocubsonline.com/archives/2009/06/1984cubs_2.php |title=Looking Back at '84: The Sandberg Game |publisher=ChicagoCubsOnline.com |date=June 23, 2009 |access-date=July 16, 2012 |archive-date=May 17, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120517020533/http://chicagocubsonline.com/archives/2009/06/1984cubs_2.php |url-status=dead }} Costas, along with Tony Kubek, was calling the Saturday baseball Game of the Week from Chicago's Wrigley Field. The game between the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals in particular was cited for putting Ryne Sandberg (as well as the 1984 Cubs in general, who would go on to make their first postseason appearance since 1945) "on the map". In the ninth inning, the Cubs, trailing 9–8, faced the premier relief pitcher of the time, Bruce Sutter. Sandberg, then not known for his power, slugged a home run to left field against the Cardinals' ace closer. Despite this dramatic act, the Cardinals scored two runs in the top of the tenth. Sandberg came up again in the tenth inning, facing a determined Sutter with one man on base. Sandberg then shocked the national audience by hitting a second home run, even farther into the left field bleachers, to tie the game again. The Cubs went on to win in the 11th inning.[http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2008/2/9/5390/94355 The Top 20 Cub HR Of All Time—No. 4 Ryne Sandberg 6/23/1984—Bleed Cubbie Blue] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320060120/http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2008/2/9/5390/94355 |date=March 20, 2012 }}. When Sandberg hit that second home run, Costas said, "Do you believe it?!" The Cardinals' Willie McGee also hit for the cycle in the same game.{{cite web |last1=Woodley |first1=Christopher |title=June 23, 1984: The Ryne Sandberg Game |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/746344-june-23-1984-the-ryne-sandberg-game |website=Bleacher Report |publisher= Turner Broadcasting System|access-date=August 18, 2019}}

While hosting Game 4 of the 1988 World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Oakland Athletics on NBC, Costas angered many members of the Dodgers (especially the team's manager, Tommy Lasorda) by commenting before the start of the game that the Dodgers quite possibly were about to put up the weakest-hitting lineup in World Series history.{{cite news|last= Ostler|first=Scott |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-10-20-sp-5478-story.html|title=This Is One Incredible Stunt They're Pulling Off | work = Los Angeles Times |date= October 20, 1988|access-date= July 31, 2012}} That comment ironically fired up the Dodgers' competitive spirit, to the point where a chant of "Kill Costas!" began among the clubhouse, while the Dodgers eventually rolled to a 4–1 series victory.{{cite web| url = https://calltothepen.com/2018/07/28/mlb-hall-fame-bob-costas-1988-dodgers/#:~:text=OAKLAND%2C%20CA%20-%20OCTOBER%2020%2C%201988%3A%20Manager%20Tommy,1988%20at%20the%20Oakland%20Coliseum%20in%20Oakland%2C%20California.| title = MLB Hall of Fame: Bob Costas inspires the 1988 Dodgers| date = July 28, 2018}}

Besides calling the 1989 American League Championship Series for NBC, Costas{{Cite web |last=Sarni |first=Jim |date=1989-10-07 |title=COSTAS PREPARES FOR (LONG) OFFSEASON |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/1989/10/07/costas-prepares-for-long-offseason/ |access-date=2024-11-04 |website=Sun Sentinel |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Stewart |first=Larry |date=1989-10-06 |title=Scully Loses Voice, Costas Fills In |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-10-06-sp-518-story.html |access-date=2024-11-04 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Nidetz |first=Steve |date=1989-10-06 |title=NBC PUTS ON ANOTHER HIT SHOW AS COSTAS STEPS INTO LEAD ROLE |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1989/10/06/nbc-puts-on-another-hit-show-as-costas-steps-into-lead-role/ |access-date=2024-11-04 |website=Chicago Tribune |language=en-US}} also filled in for a suddenly ill Vin Scully, who had come down with laryngitis, for Game{{nbsp}}2 of the 1989 National League Championship Series alongside Tom Seaver. Game{{nbsp}}2 of the NLCS took place on Thursday, October 5, which was an off day for the ALCS. NBC then decided to fly Costas from Toronto to Chicago to substitute for Scully on Thursday night. Afterward, Costas flew back to Toronto, where he resumed work on the ALCS{{cite news |last=Sandomir |first=Richard |date=November 2, 2009 |title=Some Fans See Enemies Behind Every Microphone |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/03/sports/baseball/03sandomir.html?_r=0 |newspaper=The New York Times }}{{cite news |last=McMillan |first=Ken |date=January 12, 2009 |title=Swansong for Hall of Famer Kubek aired on MLB Net |url=http://blogs.hudsonvalley.com/hudson-valley-sports-tv/2009/01/12/swansong-for-hall-of-famer-kubek-aired-on-mlb-net/ |newspaper=hudsonvalley.com }} the next night.

Costas anchored NBC's pre- and post-game shows for NFL broadcasts and the pre and post-game shows for numerous World Series and Major League Baseball All-Star Games during the 1980s (the first being for the 1982 World Series). Costas did not get a shot at doing play-by-play (as the games on NBC were previously called by Vin Scully) for an All-Star Game until 1994 and a World Series until 1995 (when NBC split the coverage with ABC under "The Baseball Network" umbrella), when NBC regained Major League Baseball rights after a four-year hiatus (when the broadcast network television contract moved over to CBS,{{cite news|title=Costas Prepares For (long) Offseason|url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1989-10-07-8902030046-story.html|first=Jim|last=Sarni|newspaper=Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel|date=October 7, 1989}}{{cite news |last=Du Brow|first=Rick|title=NBC's Team Player Has His Eye on the Ball : Sportscasting: With CBS' surprise sacking of Brent Musburger, Bob Costas would seem the obvious replacement—but he's sticking with his baseball-less network.|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-04-05-ca-1120-story.html|newspaper=Los Angeles Times}} exclusively). It was not until 1997 when Costas finally got to do play-by-play for a World Series from start to finish. Costas ended up winning a Sports Emmy Award for Outstanding Sports Personality, Play-by-Play.{{cite web |date=September 24, 2013 |title=#NewhouseNetwork: Bob Costas '74 |url=https://newhouse.syr.edu/news-events/news/newhousenetwork-bob-costas-74 |publisher=S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University |access-date=August 24, 2019 |archive-date=August 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190824001228/https://newhouse.syr.edu/news-events/news/newhousenetwork-bob-costas-74 |url-status=dead }}

In 1999, Costas teamed with his then-NBC colleague Joe Morgan to call two weekday night telecasts for ESPN. The first was on Wednesday, August 25 with the Detroit Tigers playing against the Seattle Mariners.{{cite news|url=https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/1999/08/25/Sports-Media/MEDIA-NOTES.aspx|title=Media Notes|date=August 25, 1999|work=Sports Business Daily|publisher=Advance Publications|access-date=October 12, 2020}}

On August 3, 2019, Costas alongside Paul O'Neill and David Cone{{cite web |url=https://thespun.com/more/mlb/why-bob-costas-is-calling-todays-yankees-red-sox-doubleheader|title=Why Bob Costas Is Calling Today's Yankees–Red Sox Doubleheader|last=Hladik|first=Matt|date=August 3, 2019|website=The Big Lead}}{{cite web|url=https://thebiglead.com/2019/07/30/bob-costas-to-call-yankee-game-for-yes-as-michael-kay-nears-return/|title=Bob Costas to Call Yankee Game for YES as Michael Kay Nears Return|last=Magliocchetti|first=Geoff|date=July 30, 2019|website=The Spun|access-date=August 6, 2019|archive-date=August 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190806000628/https://thebiglead.com/2019/07/30/bob-costas-to-call-yankee-game-for-yes-as-michael-kay-nears-return/|url-status=dead}} called both games of a double-header between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox for the YES Network. Costas was filling in for Michael Kay, who was recovering from vocal cord surgery.

On August 20, 2021, reports emerged that TBS was nearing an agreement with Costas to host their coverage of that year's NLCS{{cite news |last=Marchand|first=Andrew|date=August 20, 2021|title=Bob Costas nearing agreement with TBS to host NLCS|url=https://nypost.com/2021/08/20/bob-costas-likely-to-host-nlcs-for-tbs-this-october/|work=The New York Times|location= |access-date=}} This became true when TBS announce his role on October 7, 2021.{{cite news |last=Lucia|first=Joe|date=August 20, 2021|title=Bob Costas reportedly could host the NLCS on TBS|url=https://awfulannouncing.com/turner/bob-costas-reportedly-could-host-the-nlcs-on-tbs.html|work=Awful Announcing|location= |access-date=}}{{Cite web |title=TBS to be Exclusive Home of 2021 National League Championship Series presented by loanDepot – Atlanta Braves vs. Los Angeles Dodgers – Beginning Tomorrow, Saturday, Oct. 16, at 8 p.m. ET {{!}} Pressroom |url=https://press.wbd.com/na/media-release/tnt-sports/mlb-tbs/tbs-be-exclusive-home-2021-national-league-championship-series-presented-loandepot |access-date=2024-11-04 |website=press.wbd.com}}{{Cite web |last=Steinberg |first=Brian |date=2021-10-07 |title=Bob Costas Joins WarnerMedia's Post-Season Baseball Lineup |url=https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/bob-costas-baseball-nlcs-warnermedia-turner-sports-1235083053/ |access-date=2024-11-04 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}

On October 31, 2024, Costas announced that he was officially retiring from Major League Baseball play-by-play calling after 44 years.{{cite news |last=Marchand|first=Andrew|date=October 31, 2024|title=Bob Costas retires from MLB play-by-play duties after 4-plus decades|url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5888765/2024/10/31/bob-costas-mlb-retirement-play-by-play/|work=The New York Times|location= |access-date=October 31, 2024}} This means that his final Major League Baseball broadcast as a play-by-play announcer was Game 4 of the 2024 American League Division Series between the New York Yankees and Kansas City Royals, airing on TBS.{{Cite web |last=McGuire |first=Brent |date=October 31, 2024 |title=Legendary broadcaster Costas retires from MLB play-by-play |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/bob-costas-retires-from-mlb-play-by-play-duties |access-date=2024-11-04 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}

In November 2017, it was announced that Costas would co-anchor alongside Krista Voda on NBC's pre-race coverage leading into the NASCAR Cup Series finale from Homestead.{{cite web |url=http://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2017/11/bob-costas-nascar-danica-espn-goodell/|title= Extra Points: Costas, Danica, ESPN, NFL Commish|date=November 18, 2017|website=Sports Media Watch}} In addition to hosting pre-race coverage, Costas would conduct a live interview with incoming NBC broadcaster Dale Earnhardt Jr., who was running his final race.{{cite web |last1=Hembree |first1=Mike |title=NBC brings Bob Costas to NASCAR season finale to interview Dale Earnhardt Jr. |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nascar/2017/11/15/dale-earnhardt-jr-bob-costas-nbc-homestead-prerace-interview/866336001/ |website=USA Today |access-date=August 14, 2019}}

{{details|NBA on NBC#1990–1997|NBA on NBC#1998–2000}}

Costas served as NBC's lead play-by-play announcer for their National Basketball Association (NBA) broadcasts from 1997-2000. In that time frame, Costas called three NBA Finals including the 1998 installment (which set an all-time ratings record for the NBA) between the Chicago Bulls and Utah Jazz. Costas was paired with Isiah Thomas and Doug Collins on NBC's NBA telecast.{{Cite news |last=Sandomir |first=Richard |date=1997-11-26 |title=BASKETBALL; Thomas Is Teamed With Costas on NBC (Published 1997) |language=en |work=New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/11/26/sports/basketball-thomas-is-teamed-with-costas-on-nbc.html |access-date=2023-08-19}}{{Cite web |last=Stewart |first=Larry |date=1997-11-26 |title=Costas-Thomas No. 1 at NBC |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-nov-26-sp-57888-story.html |access-date=2023-08-19 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}} Following the 2000 NBA Finals, he was replaced by Marv Albert as the lead play-by-play announcer, who incidentally, the man he directly replaced on the NBA on NBC in the first place.{{Cite news |last=Sandomir |first=Richard |date=1999-06-30 |title=PRO BASKETBALL; NBC Rehires Albert 2 Years After Firing Him (Published 1999) |language=en |work=New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/06/30/sports/pro-basketball-nbc-rehires-albert-2-years-after-firing-him.html |access-date=2023-08-19}}{{Cite web |title=Albert back as NBC's lead announcer |url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1999/12/15/albert-back-as-nbc-s-lead-announcer/ |access-date=2023-08-19 |website=Tampa Bay Times |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Sandomir |first=Richard |date=1999-12-17 |title=TV SPORTS; Once Again, Albert Is at Top of His Game With the N.B.A. (Published 1999) |language=en |work=New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/12/17/sports/tv-sports-once-again-albert-is-at-top-of-his-game-with-the-nba.html |access-date=2023-08-19}}

Costas had previously presided as host of NBC's pre-game show, NBA Showtime, while also providing play-by-play as a fill-in when necessary. Costas later co-anchored (with Hannah Storm) NBC's NBA Finals coverage in 2002, which was their last to-date (before the NBA's network television contract moved to ABC).{{cite web |last1=Sarni |first1=Jim |title=NBC GETS WISH WITH DOUBLEHEADER |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-2002-05-31-0205310126-story.html |website=sun-sentinel.com |date=May 31, 2002 |publisher=South Florida South Sentinel |access-date=August 18, 2019}}{{cite news |title=NBA Finals Game 3 draws best rating since move to ABC |url=https://www.apnews.com/90ae589fe9904174a3ea64ca3d951914 |website=apnews.com |agency=Associated Press |access-date=August 18, 2019 |archive-date=August 18, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190818024117/https://www.apnews.com/90ae589fe9904174a3ea64ca3d951914 |url-status=dead }}

{{Blockquote|Okay, Marv, thanks very much. And as Marv himself would say, "it should be pointed out" that Marv is celebrating his forty-ninth birthday tonight for a record twelfth consecutive year. Well, another season is in the books. The Lakers' title run continues with perhaps no end in sight. But as Marv said, we have reached the end of our run with the NBA. NBC's twelve years televising the league had been filled with indelible moments. And so, as we say good night, here's an appreciative look back. And for one last time, you've been watching the NBA on NBC.|Bob Costas closing out NBC's final NBA broadcast, Game 4 of the 2002 NBA Finals on June 12, 2002.}}

Costas began as a play-by-play announcer, working with analyst Bob Trumpy.{{cite web |title=BOB TRUMPY NAMED ROZELLE AWARD WINNER |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/news/bob-trumpy-named-rozelle-award-winner/ |website=profootballhof.com |publisher=PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME |access-date=August 14, 2019}} In 1984, he would replace Len Berman as studio host.{{cite web|url=http://profootballresearchers.com/archives/Website_Files/Coffin_Corner/26-05-1045.pdf|title=A CHRONOLOGY OF PRO FOOTBALL ON TELEVISION: Part 3|last=Brulia |first=Tim|website=Pro Football Researchers}} Among his NFL colleagues was O.J. Simpson, who had called 30 Rockefeller Plaza asking to speak to Costas during Simpson's infamous police chase through the freeways of Los Angeles. However, Costas was several blocks away at Madison Square Garden covering Game 5 of the 1994 NBA Finals. Costas learned of the attempted contact when visiting Simpson in prison later that year.{{cite news |url=https://www.today.com/news/bob-costas-oj-simpson-rcna147525 |title=Bob Costas recalls O.J. Simpson car chase following his death: 'It was surreal, to put it mildly' |work=Today |date=April 12, 2024 |access-date=April 12, 2024}} Costas remained NFL studio host until 1992, when he was replaced by Jim Lampley.

NBC Sports allowed Costas to opt out from having to cover the XFL. He publicly denigrated the league throughout its existence and remains a vocal critic of the XFL and its premise.{{cite web |last1=Clark |first1=Tom |title=Director Charlie Ebersol Talks 'This Was the XFL' 30 for 30, Vince McMahon, More |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2690645-director-charlie-ebersol-talks-this-was-the-xfl-30-for-30-vince-mcmahon-more |website=Bleacher Report |publisher= Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. |access-date=August 18, 2019}}

In 2006, Costas returned to NFL studio hosting duties for NBC's new Sunday Night Football, hosting its pre-game show Football Night in America.

Costas is nicknamed "Rapping Roberto" by New York City's Daily News sports media columnist Bob Raissman.{{cite news | url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/story/451507p-380022c.html | title=NBC out-Foxed in opener | work=Daily News | author=Raissman, Bob | date=September 12, 2006 }}{{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Al Michaels also called him "Rapping Roberto" during the telecast between the Indianapolis Colts and the New York Giants on September 10, 2006, in response to Costas calling him "Alfalfa".{{cite news | url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/columnist/hiestand-tv/2006-09-10-weekend_x.htm | title=Scores, injury updates early fodder for NBC's Sunday-night NFL show | work =USA Today | author= Hiestand, Michael | date= September 11, 2006}}

Costas has frontlined many Olympics broadcasts for NBC. They include Seoul in 1988, Barcelona in 1992, Atlanta in 1996, Sydney in 2000, Salt Lake City in 2002, Athens in 2004, Torino in 2006, Beijing in 2008, Vancouver in 2010, London in 2012, Sochi in 2014 and Rio in 2016.{{cite web|author=Guinto, Joseph |url=http://www.americanwaymag.com/costas-now-olympics-beijing-bob-costas |title=Golden Boy |work=American Way |date=August 1, 2008 |access-date=July 31, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120813051502/http://www.americanwaymag.com/costas-now-olympics-beijing-bob-costas |archive-date=August 13, 2012 }} He discusses his work on the Olympic telecasts extensively in a book by Andrew Billings entitled Olympic Media: Inside the Biggest Show on Television. A personal influence on Costas has been legendary ABC Sports broadcaster Jim McKay, who hosted many Olympics for ABC from the 1960s to the 1980s.(June 7, 2008). [http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/25019261/ "Legendary Broadcaster McKay Dies—TV Sports Journalist Known for Hosting 'Wide World of Sports' and Olympics"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120723135112/http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/25019261/ |date=July 23, 2012 }}. NBC Sports. Retrieved July 31, 2012.

During the 1992 Barcelona and 1996 Atlanta Opening Ceremonies, Costas's remarks on China's teams' possible drug use caused an uproar among the American Chinese and international communities. Thousands of dollars were raised to purchase ads in The Washington Post and Sunday The New York Times, featuring an image of the head of a statue of Apollo and reading: "Costas Poisoned Olympic Spirit, Public Protests NBC".{{cite web | url=http://museums.cnd.org/CND-Global/CND-Global.96.3rd/CND-Global.96-08-31.html | title=Text of Protest Ad| work = China News Digest |first=K. Harrison|last=Liang | date= August 29, 1996}}{{cite news | url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C07E6D6163BF935A3575AC0A960958260| title=Cultural Views: Differing Outlooks | work = The New York Times |last=Sandomir|first=Richard| author-link = Richard Sandomir | date= September 6, 1996 | access-date = July 31, 2012}} However, Costas's comments were made subsequent to the suspension of Chinese coach Zhou Ming after seven of his swimmers were caught using steroids in 1994. Further evidence of Chinese athletes' drug use came in 1997 when Australian authorities confiscated 13 vials of Somatropin, a human growth hormone, from the bag of Chinese swimmer Yuan Yuan upon her arrival for the 1997 World Swimming Championships. At the World Championships, four Chinese swimmers tested positive for the banned substance Triamterene, a diuretic used to dilute urine samples to mask the presence of anabolic steroids. Including these failed drug tests, 27 Chinese swimmers were caught using performance-enhancing drugs from 1990 through 1997; more than the rest of the world combined.{{cite news | url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-jan-18-sp-9735-story.html | title=Latest Drug Scandal Has China Critics Seeing Red | author = Penner, Mike | date= January 18, 1998 | work= Los Angeles Times | access-date = July 31, 2012}}

Along with co-host Meredith Vieira and Matt Lauer, Costas's commentary of the 2012 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremonies came under fierce criticism, with Costas being described as making "a series of jingoistic remarks, including a joke about dictator Idi Amin when Uganda's team appeared"Adams, Guy (July 30, 2012). [https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/news/as-america-succeeds-at-the-games-back-home-all-the-talk-is-about-nbcfail-7986147.html "As America Succeeds at the Games, Back Home All the Talk Is About #NBCfail—Host Bob Costas Made a Series of Jingoistic Remarks, Including a Joke About Idi Amin When Uganda's Team Appeared"]. The Independent. Retrieved August 1, 2012. and the combined commentary as being "ignorant" and "banal".Huff, Steve (July 28, 2012). [http://observer.com/2012/07/nbcs-broadcast-of-the-olympics-opening-ceremony-was-the-worst-video/ "NBC's Broadcast of the Olympics Opening Ceremony Was the Worst—We Cringed"]. The New York Observer. Retrieved August 1, 2012.Holmes, Linda (July 27, 2012). [https://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2012/07/28/157521409/the-opening-ceremonies-in-london-from-the-industrial-revolution-to-voldemort "The Opening Ceremonies in London: From the Industrial Revolution to Voldemort"]. NPR. Retrieved August 1, 2012.Keller, Emma G. (July 28, 2012). [https://www.theguardian.com/media/us-news-blog/2012/jul/28/nbc-olympics-opening-ceremony "NBC Lambasted Over Banal Butchering of Opening Ceremony—And Rightly So—Tim Berners-Lee? Who's That? Madagascar? Oh, Like the Kids Movie! If You're Going To Make Us Wait Hours To Watch the Ceremony Live, NBC, the Least You Could Have Done Is Keep Quiet"]. Olympics2012 (blog of The Guardian). Retrieved August 1, 2012.

Following the Olympics, Costas appeared on Conan O'Brien's talk show and jokingly criticized his employer for its decision to air a preview of the upcoming series Animal Practice over a performance by The Who during the London closing ceremonies. "So here is the balance NBC has to consider: The Who, 'Animal Practice'. Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend—monkey in a lab coat. I'm sure you'd be the first to attest, Conan, that when it comes to the tough calls, NBC usually gets 'em right," Costas said, alluding at the end to O'Brien's involvement in the 2010 Tonight Show conflict.Porter, Rick. (September 13, 2012). [http://blog.zap2it.com/pop2it/2012/09/conan-bob-costas-not-a-fan-of-nbcs-olympic-closing-ceremony-coverage.html "'Conan': Bob Costas not a fan of NBC's Olympic closing ceremony coverage"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120914233615/http://blog.zap2it.com/pop2it/2012/09/conan-bob-costas-not-a-fan-of-nbcs-olympic-closing-ceremony-coverage.html |date=September 14, 2012 }}. Zap2it. Retrieved September 16, 2012.

An eye infection Costas had at the start of the 2014 Winter Olympics forced him, on February 11, 2014, to cede his Olympic hosting duties to Matt Lauer (four nights) and Meredith Vieira (two nights), the first time Costas had not done so at all since the 1998 Winter Olympics (as the rights were not held by NBC).{{cite web|url=http://www.nbcolympics.com/news/matt-lauer-fill-bob-costas-nbcs-olympic-primetime-show?ctx=att-olympic-news-desk|title=Matt Lauer to fill in for Bob Costas on NBC's Olympic primetime show|website=www.nbcolympics.com|access-date=February 11, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140212064658/http://www.nbcolympics.com/news/matt-lauer-fill-bob-costas-nbcs-olympic-primetime-show?ctx=att-olympic-news-desk|archive-date=February 12, 2014|url-status=dead}}

From 2001 until 2018, Costas co-hosted the Kentucky Derby.{{cite news|last=Hoppert |first=Melissa |url=http://therail.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/02/nbc-blankets-churchill-downs/ |title=NBC Blankets Churchill Downs | publisher = The Rail (blog of The New York Times) |date= May 2, 2012 |access-date= August 5, 2012}} In 2009, he hosted Bravo's coverage of the 2009 Kentucky Oaks.[http://www.nt2099.com/J-ENT/news/american-entertainment/ladies-first-bravo-at-the-kentucky-derby-airs-on-bravo-friday-may-1-at-5-pm-etpt/ Ladies First Bravo at the Kentucky Derby Airs on Bravo] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100328030859/http://www.nt2099.com/J-ENT/news/american-entertainment/ladies-first-bravo-at-the-kentucky-derby-airs-on-bravo-friday-may-1-at-5-pm-etpt/ |date=March 28, 2010 }} After Costas officially departed from NBC Sports, his role on NBC's thoroughbred racing coverage was essentially filled-in by Rebecca Lowe, beginning with the 2019 Kentucky Derby.{{cite press release |title=FROM THE MANCHESTER DERBY TO ... THE KENTUCKY DERBY, NBC SPORTS' REBECCA LOWE MAKES HER HORSE RACING DEBUT AT CHURCHILL DOWNS NEXT WEEK |url=http://nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com/2019/04/23/from-the-manchester-derby-to-the-kentucky-derby-nbc-sports-rebecca-lowe-makes-her-horse-racing-debut-at-churchill-downs-next-week/ |website=NBC Sports Group Press Box |publisher=NBC Universal |access-date=August 14, 2019}}

On February 9, 2017, Costas announced during Today that he had begun the process of stepping down from his main on-air roles at NBC Sports, announcing in particular that he would cede his role as primetime host for NBC's Olympics coverage to Mike Tirico (who joined the network from ESPN in 2016), and that he would host Super Bowl LII as his final Super Bowl. However, Costas ultimately dropped out of the coverage entirely.{{Cite news |last=Smerconish |first=Michael |title=Bob Costas is right about the alarming dangers of football |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |url=http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/michael_smerconish/super-bowl-2018-lii-philadelphia-eagles-bob-costas-football-concussions-cte-20180131.html |access-date=February 2, 2018}}

USA Today reported that he would similarly step down from Football Night in America in favor of Tirico. Costas explained that he was not outright retiring and expected to take on a role at NBC Sports similar to that of Tom Brokaw, being an occasional special correspondent to the division. He explained that his decision "opens up more time to do the things that I feel I'm most connected to; there will still be events, features, and interviews where I can make a significant contribution at NBC, but it will also leave more time for baseball (on MLB Network), and then, at some point down the road, I'll have a chance to do more of the long-form programming I enjoy." Costas told USA Today his gradual retirement was planned in advance, and that he did not want to announce it during the 2016 Summer Olympics or the NFL season because it would be too disruptive, and joked: "I'm glad that Sochi wasn't the last one. You wouldn't want your pink-eye Olympics to be your last Olympics."{{cite web|title=Bob Costas steps down as NBC host of Olympics; Mike Tirico to replace him|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2017/02/09/bob-costas-nbc-sports-stepping-down-olympics-sunday-night-football-nfl/97683870/|website=USA Today|access-date=February 9, 2017}}{{cite web|title=Brennan: Bob Costas has been the face of the Olympics for Americans|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/columnist/brennan/2017/02/09/bob-costas-olympics/97684504/|website=USA Today|access-date=February 9, 2017}}

Costas's final major on-air broadcast for NBC was hosting the 2018 Belmont Stakes, where Justify won the Triple Crown.{{cite web |url=https://www.newsday.com/sports/media/bob-costas-nbc-belmont-1.18990237 |title=Bob Costas ready to host NBC's coverage of the Belmont Stakes |publisher=Newsday |date=June 5, 2018 |access-date=October 4, 2019 |archive-date=February 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190217142244/https://www.newsday.com/sports/media/bob-costas-nbc-belmont-1.18990237 |url-status=dead }}

On January 15, 2019, it was announced that Costas had officially departed from NBC Sports after 40 years.{{cite news |title=Bob Costas Leaves NBC Sports After Nearly 40 Years |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/bob-costas-leaves-nbc-sports-after-nearly-40-years-11547715970 |website=The Wall Street Journal |date=January 17, 2019 |access-date=August 14, 2019}}

On August 11, 2024, Costas made a rare guest appearance on NBC's coverage of the 2024 Summer Olympics for a segment previewing the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, joining Tirico and Al Michaels in a discussion of notable moments from past Olympics hosted by the United States.{{cite news |last=Steinberg |first=Brian |date=October 7, 2021 |title=Bob Costas Joins WarnerMedia's Post-Season Baseball Lineup |url=https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/bob-costas-baseball-nlcs-warnermedia-turner-sports-1235083053/ |access-date= |work=Variety |location=}}

Costas hosted the syndicated radio program Costas Coast to Coast from 1986 to 1996, which was revived as Costas on the Radio. Costas on the Radio, which ended its three-year run on May 31, 2009, aired on 200 stations nationwide each weekend and syndicated by the Clear Channel–owned Premiere Radio Networks. During that period, Costas also served as the imaging voice of Clear Channel–owned KLOU in St. Louis, Missouri, during that station's period as "My 103.3".{{cite web|url=http://formatchange.com/1033-klou-becomes-my-1033/|title=103.3 KLOU becomes "My 103.3"—Format Change Archive|date=June 18, 2007}} Like Later, Costas's radio shows have focused on a wide variety of topics and have not been limited to sports discussion.

Later with Bob Costas aired on NBC from 1988 to 1994. Costas decided to leave Later after six seasons, having grown tired of the commute to New York City from his home in St. Louis and wishing to lighten his workload in order to spend more time with his family. He also turned down an offer from David Letterman, who moved to CBS in 1995, to follow him there and become the first host of The Late Late Show, which was being developed by Letterman's company to air at 12:30 after the Late Show with David Letterman.{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-01-01-ca-15250-story.html|title=TELEVISION : Doesn't Tom Snyder Ever Say Good Night? : The radio-TV veteran returns to the late late-night spot that made him famous. So, will this move be a step back—or a step back to his former glory?|first=Rick Du|last=Brow|date=January 1, 1995|via=Los Angeles Times}}

In June 2005, Costas was named by CNN president Jonathan Klein as a regular substitute anchor for Larry King's Larry King Live for one year. Costas, as well as Klein, made clear that Costas was not trying out for King's position on a permanent basis. Nancy Grace was also named a regular substitute host for the show.{{cite news | url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cnn-hires-bob-costas/ | title=CNN Hires Bob Costas | publisher= Associated Press (via CBS News) | date= June 9, 2005}} On August 18, 2005, Costas refused to host a Larry King Live broadcast where the subject was missing teenager Natalee Holloway. Costas said that because there were no new developments in the story, he felt it had no news value, and he was uncomfortable with television's drift in the direction of tabloid-type stories.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/24/arts/television/bob-costas-says-no-to-hour-on-aruba.html| title=Bob Costas Says No to Hour on Aruba | website= The New York Times | date= August 25, 2014}}

Beginning in October 2011, Costas was a correspondent for Rock Center with Brian Williams. He gained acclaim for his November 2011 live interview of former Pennsylvania State University assistant coach Jerry Sandusky concerning charges of sexual abuse of minors, in which Sandusky called in to deny the charges.{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/lawyers-convicted-serial-child-molester-jerry-sandusky-appeal-conviction-grounds-tv-glitch-interview-bob-costas-article-1.1101631?localLinksEnabled=false |title=Lawyers for convicted serial child molester Jerry Sandusky to appeal conviction on grounds of TV glitch during his interview with Bob Costas | work = Daily News |date= June 24, 2012 |access-date= July 16, 2012}}

Costas hosted a monthly talk show Costas Tonight on NBC Sports Network.{{cite web|url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/06/21/costas-tonight-looks-at-bounty-scandal/ |title=Costas Tonight Looks at Bounty Scandal |publisher=Profootballtalk.nbcsports.com |date= June 21, 2012 |access-date= July 16, 2012}}

In 2001, Costas was hired by HBO to host a 12-week series called On the Record with Bob Costas.[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0283207/ 'On the Record with Bob Costas' (2001)"]. IMDb.

In 2002, Costas began a stint as co-host of HBO's long-running series Inside the NFL. Costas remained host of Inside the NFL through the end of the 2007 NFL season. He hosted the show with Cris Collinsworth and former NFL legends Dan Marino and Cris Carter. The program aired each week during the NFL season.

Costas left HBO to sign with MLB Network in February 2009.

On April 23, 2021, it was announced that Costas would be returning to HBO to host a quarter-yearly interview show called Back on the Record.{{cite news |last=Porter|first=Rick|date=April 23, 2021|title=Bob Costas Returning to HBO for Interview Series|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/bob-costas-hbo-interview-series|work=The Hollywood Reporter|location= |access-date=}}

At the channel's launch on January 1, 2009, Costas hosted the premiere episode of All Time Games, a presentation of the recently discovered kinescope of Game{{nbsp}}5 of the 1956 World Series. During the episode, he held a forum with Don Larsen, who pitched MLB's only postseason perfect game during that game, and Yogi Berra, who caught the game.

Costas joined the network full-time on February 3, 2009. He hosted a regular interview show titled MLB Network Studio 42 with Bob Costas as well as special programming and provides play-by-play for select live baseball game telecasts.Michael Schneider (February 3, 2009). [https://variety.com/2009/scene/markets-festivals/bob-costas-joining-mlb-network-1117999541/ "Bob Costas joining MLB Network"]. Variety. Retrieved June 4, 2020. In 2017, Costas called Game{{nbsp}}1 of the American League Division Series between the Boston Red Sox and the Houston Astros on MLB Network. The Astros went on to win 8–2. Costas and his color commentator Jim Kaat received criticism for their "bantering about minutia" and misidentification of plays. Costas also went on to become an internet meme after using the term the "sacks were juiced" to describe the bases being loaded.{{cite web|url=http://www.weei.com/blogs/alex-reimer/please-keep-bob-costas-away-red-sox-playoff-games|title=Please keep Bob Costas away from Red Sox playoff games|date=October 6, 2017}}

As aforementioned, Costas hosted Thursday Night Football on NBC and NFL Network in 2016, having returned to broadcasting after a brief absence. He was replaced by Liam McHugh in 2017.

In July 2020, it was announced that Costas would join CNN as a contributor.{{cite news |last=Johnson|first=Ted|date=July 20, 2020|title=Bob Costas Joins CNN As A Contributor|url=https://deadline.com/2020/07/bob-costas-cnn-contributor-1202989634/|work=Deadline}} According to CNN, Costas would provide commentary "on a wide range of sports-related issues as the industry adapts to new challenges posed by the coronavirus and the frequent intersection of sports with larger societal issues." Costas, who would continue working on MLB Network, said of joining CNN: “CNN’s willingness to devote time and attention to sports related topics, makes it a good fit for me.”

On August 20, 2021, Andrew Marchand of the New York Post reported that TBS — a sister property via CNN parent WarnerMedia — was nearing an agreement with Costas which would have him hosting the network's National League Championship Series coverage.{{cite news|url= https://nypost.com/2021/08/20/bob-costas-likely-to-host-nlcs-for-tbs-this-october/|title=Bob Costas nearing agreement with TBS to host NLCS|date=August 20, 2021|work=New York Post|access-date=August 20, 2021}} On October 7, 2021, Turner Sports announced that Costas would be joining TBS for their postseason baseball coverage starting on October 16.{{cite news|last=Russ|first=Heltman|date=October 8, 2021|title=Bob Costas Hosting TBS Coverage Of Playoffs|url=https://www.barrettsportsmedia.com/2021/10/08/bob-costas-tbs/|work=Barrett Sports Media|location=|access-date=|archive-date=October 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211011060450/https://www.barrettsportsmedia.com/2021/10/08/bob-costas-tbs/|url-status=dead}}

As of the 2022 MLB season, Costas provided play-by-play for TBS's Tuesday night baseball package during the regular season. He was the studio host for TBS's ALCS postseason coverage and also provided play-by-play for TBS's ALDS postseason coverage between the Cleveland Guardians and New York Yankees.{{cite news |last=Lucia|first=Joe|date=October 10, 2022|title=Your 2022 MLB Division Series announcing schedule|url=https://awfulannouncing.com/schedules/your-2022-mlb-division-series-announcing-schedule.html|work=Awful Announcing|location= |access-date=October 12, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/costas-to-call-games-for-tbs-in-addition-to-mlb-network/article_9a3acb02-59e9-58b0-8cb1-6bd9735ec53b.html|title=Costas to call games for TBS in addition to MLB Network|date=April 6, 2022 }} This marked the first time since the 2000 ALCS on NBC that Costas provided play-by-play for a postseason baseball series in its entirety.{{cite news |last=Bucholtz|first=Andrew|date=October 10, 2022|title=Bob Costas on calling first full MLB Postseason series since 2000: "I'm really excited about the prospect of doing an entire series"|url=https://awfulannouncing.com/mlb/bob-costas-mlb-postseason-entire-series.html|work=Awful Announcing|location= |access-date=October 12, 2022}}

Costas provided the play-by-play commentary on TBS for the 2024 American League Division Series between the New York Yankees and Kansas City Royals, receiving criticism for his monotonic delivery and perceived lack of interest in the events on the field.{{cite web |last1=Traina |first1=Jimmy |title=Bob Costas and TBS Make Royals-Yankees a Painful, Infuriating Watch |url=https://www.si.com/mlb/bob-costas-tbs-make-royals-yankees-painful-infuriating-watch |website=si.com |date=October 10, 2024 |publisher=Sports Illustrated |access-date=11 October 2024}}{{cite web |last1=London |first1=Adam |title=MLB Fans Totally Fed Up With Bob Costas Amid Yankees-Royals Series |url=https://nesn.com/2024/10/mlb-fans-totally-fed-up-with-bob-costas-amid-yankees-royals-series/ |website=nesn.com |date=October 10, 2024 |access-date=11 October 2024}} Following the series, Costas announced his retirement from calling MLB games.{{cite news |last1=Roscher |first1=Liz |title=Bob Costas retires as MLB play-by-play voice after 44-year career in the booth |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/bob-costas-retires-as-mlb-play-by-play-voice-after-44-year-career-in-the-booth-203156942.html |access-date=19 April 2025 |publisher=Yahoo! Sports |date=31 October 2024}}

Costas provided significant contributions to the Ken Burns, PBS miniseries Baseball as well as its follow-up The 10th Inning. He also appears in another PBS film, A Time for Champions, produced by St. Louis's Nine Network of Public Media.{{cite web|url=http://www.timeforchampions.org/ |title=Time for Champions |access-date= February 14, 2012}}

June 23, 1984: Costas called NBC's Game of the Week with Tony Kubek, where Ryne Sandberg hit two separate home runs in the 9th and 10th innings against Bruce Sutter to tie the game. This game is known as "The Sandberg Game".{{Citation|publisher=MLB|title=Sandberg's ties the game twice|date=November 17, 2014|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XEp_ElQThU| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211123/_XEp_ElQThU| archive-date=November 23, 2021 | url-status=live|access-date=July 7, 2019}}{{cbignore}}

Costas's call of the first home run:

Into left center field, and deep. This is a tie ball game!

Costas's call of the second home run:

Costas: 1–1 pitch. [Sandberg swings]

Kubek: OHHH BOY!

Costas: [Over Kubek] And he hits it to deep left center! Look out! Do you believe it, it's gone! We will go to the 11th, tied at 11.

October 28, 1995: Costas called Game 6 of the 1995 World Series, where the Atlanta Braves finally won their first ever World Series championship since moving to Atlanta in 1966.

Left-center field, Grissom on the run. The team of the '90s has its World Championship!{{cite news |last=Foster|first=Jason|date=October 27, 2015|title=Almost a dynasty: The Braves won a lot in the '90s, but they should've won more|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/mlb/list/braves-world-series-losses-postseason-collapses-failures-1996-yankees-twins-blue-jays-phillies-marlins-eric-gregg/6jfr6crlbyhv15jv5wfxv5qww#:~:text=As%20the%20Braves%20won%20the,a%20title%20up%20for%20debate.|work=Sporting News|location= |access-date=}}

October 26, 1997: Costas called Game 7 of the 1997 World Series, where Édgar Rentería hit a walk off single to give the Florida Marlins their first World Series championship. Costas's call:

The 0–1 pitch. A liner, off Nagy's glove, into center field! The Florida Marlins, have won the World Series!

June 14, 1998: Costas called Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals, Michael Jordan and Phil Jackson's final game with the Chicago Bulls where Jordan hit a 20-foot jumpshot to put the Bulls up 87–86 with 5.2 seconds remaining. The Bulls would win the game by that score, giving them their sixth championship and third consecutive. Costas's call:

Jordan with 43. Malone is doubled. They swat at him and steal it! Here comes Chicago. 17 seconds. 17 seconds, from Game 7, or from championship #6. Jordan, open, CHICAGO WITH THE LEAD! Timeout Utah, 5.2 seconds left. Michael Jordan, running on fumes, with 45 points.

June 4, 2000: Costas called Game 7 of the 2000 Western Conference Finals for NBC's NBA coverage. Kobe Bryant threw an alley oop pass to Shaquille O'Neal to give the Lakers a six-point lead with 41.3 seconds remaining.{{Citation|title=Kobe Memories: KB to Shaq Alley Oop WCF 2000 NBA Game 7 Blazers vs Lakers|date=December 8, 2015|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUZjfThbmY8| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211123/mUZjfThbmY8| archive-date=November 23, 2021 | url-status=live|access-date=July 7, 2019}}{{cbignore}} Costas's call of the play:

Portland has three timeouts left, the Lakers have two. Bryant{{nbsp}}... TO SHAQ!

September 25, 2014: Costas called Derek Jeter's final game at Yankee Stadium for MLB Network, where he hit an RBI single to win the game. Costas's call:

A base hit to right! Here comes Richardson, they're waving him home! The throw, it's close but he scores! On a walk off hit by Derek Jeter!

Costas is a devoted baseball fan. He's been suggested as a potential commissioner and wrote Fair Ball: A Fan's Case for Baseball in 2000. For his 40th birthday, then Oakland Athletics manager Tony La Russa allowed Costas to manage the club during a spring training game. The first time Costas visited baseball legend Stan Musial's St. Louis eatery, he left a $3.31 tip on a ten dollar tab in homage to Musial's lifetime batting average (.331). Costas delivered the eulogy at Mickey Mantle's funeral. In eulogizing Mantle, Costas described the baseball legend as "a fragile hero to whom we had an emotional attachment so strong and lasting that it defied logic". Costas has even carried a 1958 Mickey Mantle baseball card in his wallet. Costas also delivered the eulogy for Musial after his death in early 2013.

Costas was outspoken about his disdain for Major League Baseball instituting a playoff wild card. Costas believed it diminishes the significance and drama of winning a divisional championship. He prefers a system in which winning the wild card puts a team at some sort of disadvantage, as opposed to an equal level with teams who outplayed them over a 162-game season. Or, as explained in his book Fair Ball, have only the three division winners in each league go to the postseason, with the team with the best record receiving a bye to the League Championship Series. Once, on the air on HBO's Inside the NFL, he mentioned that the NFL regular season counted for something, but baseball's was beginning to lose significance. With the advent of the second wild card, Costas has said he feels the format has improved, since there is now a greater premium placed on finishing first. He has suggested a further tweak: Make the wild card round a best two of three, instead of a single game, with all three games, if necessary, on the homefield of the wild card of the better record.{{Cite web |last=Gaines |first=Cork |title='The Costas Plan' is an ingenious way to shorten the MLB season and fix the playoffs |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/bob-costas-154-game-season-playoffs-2016-10 |access-date=2024-11-04 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}}

He also has disdained the Designated Hitter rule, saying baseball would be a better game without it.{{Cite web |title=Is It Time to Get Rid of the Designated Hitter…or Expand It to the National League? |url=https://jugssports.com/blog/is-it-time-to-get-rid-of-the-designated-hitteror-expand-it-to-the-national-league/ |access-date=2024-11-04 |website=Jugs Sports |language=en}}

Costas serves as a member of the advisory board of the Baseball Assistance Team, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to helping former Major League, Minor League, and Negro league players through financial and medical difficulties.

Costas considers himself left of center but has said that he has voted for Republican candidates at times as well. On May 26, 2007, Costas discussed the presidency of George W. Bush on his radio show, stating he liked Bush personally, and had been optimistic about his presidency, but said the course of the Iraq War, and other mis-steps have led him to conclude Bush's presidency had "tragically failed" and considered it "overwhelmingly evident, even if you're a conservative Republican, if you're honest about it, this is a failed administration."Costas on the Radio, May 26, 2007. The following summer, Costas interviewed Bush during the president's appearance at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.{{cite news|last=Ostrow|first=Joanne|date=August 10, 2008|title=Bob Costas, redeemed|url=http://blogs.denverpost.com/ostrow/2008/08/10/bob-costas-redeemed/215/|publisher=Ostrow Off the Record (blog of The Denver Post)|access-date=August 1, 2012|archive-date=September 23, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120923201231/http://blogs.denverpost.com/ostrow/2008/08/10/bob-costas-redeemed/215/|url-status=dead}}

On August 1, 1996, the night of Michael Johnson's 200 m Olympic win, Costas stated on-air during Olympics coverage of the 1996 Olympics that Johnson's gold-medal performance in the 200 m (19.32 seconds) was faster than Donovan Bailey's 100 m performance (9.84 seconds) five days earlier in that 19.32 divided by two is 9.66.{{cite news| first=Tim | last=Layden | url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1997/06/09/pulling-a-fast-one-the-long-awaited-match-race-between-michael-johnson-and-donovan-bailey-turned-into-a-travesty-further-wounding-an-ailing-sport | agency=Sports Illustrated | title=Pulling A Fast One | date=9 June 1997}}{{cite news|url=http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/08/25/whos-the-worlds-fastest-runner/ |title=Who's the World's Fastest Runner? |publisher=Freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com |date=2008-08-25 |accessdate=2012-04-11}} Bailey later dismissed Costas' comments as "a person who knew nothing about track talking about it with a lot of people listening"; nonetheless, the sportscaster's remarks touched a nerve. {{Cite web |last=Giddens |first=David |date=2017-08-10 |title=Meet me in the middle: The weird Donovan Bailey vs. Michael Johnson 150m race |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sportslongform/entry/bailey-johnson-150-match-race |access-date=2024-08-29 |website=CBC.ca}}

The unofficial "world's fastest man" title typically goes to the Olympic 100 metre champion.

The 200 metre time almost always yields a "faster" average speed than a 100-metre race time, since the initial slow speed at the start is spread out over the longer distance.{{cite web |url=http://www.sportsscientists.com/2008/06/fastest-man-in-world.html |title=Who is the fastest man in the world? |publisher=Sportsscientists.com |date=2008-06-26 |accessdate=2012-04-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120523165116/http://www.sportsscientists.com/2008/06/fastest-man-in-world.html |archive-date=2012-05-23 |url-status=dead }} In other words, the second 100 metres is run with a "flying start", without the slow acceleration phase of the first 100 metres and without the greater than 0.10 s reaction time of the start. In fact, each 200 metre gold medalist from 1968, when fully electronic timing was introduced, to 1996 had a "faster" average speed at the Olympics, save one, yet there had been no controversy over the title of "world's fastest man" previously, until Bob Costas' remarks during the 1996 Olympics.

Amid continuous verbal sparring between the pair of athletes, this led to an unsanctioned 150-metre race between Bailey and Johnson in Toronto.

During a segment on the Sunday Night Football halftime show on December 2, 2012, Costas paraphrased Fox Sports columnist Jason Whitlock in regard to Jovan Belcher's murder-suicide the day prior, saying the United States' gun culture was causing more domestic disputes to result in death, and that it was likely Belcher and his girlfriend would not have died had he not possessed a gun.{{cite web|title=Bob Costas Got Blasted For His Gun-Control Monologue After Jovan Belcher's Murder-Suicide|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/bob-costas-gun-control-jovan-belcher-chiefs-murder-suicide-kasandra-perkins-2012-12|website=Business Insider|access-date=December 3, 2012}}

Critics interpreted his remarks as support for gun control. Many (including former Republican presidential candidates Mike Huckabee and Herman Cain) felt Costas should not have used a program typically viewed as entertainment to publicize political views on sensitive topics. Lou Dobbs criticized his remarks for supporting the abolition of the Second Amendment by quoting a sports writer, while Andrew Levy remarked that he had been given a civics lecture by someone who had "gotten rich thanks in part to a sport that destroys men's bodies and brains".{{cite news|title=Bob Costas delivers anti-gun message on Sunday Night Football one day after NFL player Jovan Belcher kills girlfriend, himself|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/costas-delivers-anti-gun-message-sunday-night-football-article-1.1212138|website=New York Daily News|access-date=December 4, 2012}} However, reporter Erik Wemple of The Washington Post praised Costas for speaking out for gun control on the broadcast, commenting that the incident's connection to the NFL provided him with an obligation to acknowledge the incident during the halftime show, stating that "the things that [NFL players] do affect the public beyond whether their teams cover the point spread. And few cases better exemplify that dynamic as powerfully as the Belcher incident."{{cite news|last=Wemple|first=Erik|title=Bob Costas, please keep spouting off|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/erik-wemple/post/bob-costas-please-keep-spouting-off/2012/12/03/ab289450-3d67-11e2-8a5c-473797be602c_blog.html|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=December 4, 2012|date=December 4, 2012}}

During the following week, Costas defended his remarks in an appearance on MSNBC's program The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell, where he said the remarks were related to the country's gun culture, and not about gun control as critics had inferred. Costas did suggest that more regulation be placed on America's gun culture:{{cite news|last=Pengelly|first=Martin|title=Bob Costas defends 'gun culture' comments in MSNBC interview|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/dec/05/bob-costas-gun-comments-msnbc-interview|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=December 9, 2012|location=London|date=December 5, 2012}}

Now, do I believe that we need more comprehensive and more sensible gun control legislation? Yes I do. That doesn't mean repeal the Second Amendment. That doesn't mean a prohibition on someone having a gun to protect their home and their family. It means sensible and more comprehensive gun control legislation. But even if you had that, you would still have the problem of what Jason Whitlock wrote about, and what I agree with. And that is a gun culture in this country.

During his coverage of the 2014 Winter Olympics, Costas was criticized by some conservative members of the media, including Michelle Malkin and Glenn Beck, for allegedly praising Russian president Vladimir Putin's role in defusing tensions surrounding Syria and Iran.{{cite news|last1=Farhi|first1=Paul|title=In coverage of Olympics, NBC has largely steered clear of controversy|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/olympics/in-coverage-of-olympics-nbc-has-largely-steered-clear-of-controversy/2014/02/21/5e68a088-99aa-11e3-80ac-63a8ba7f7942_story.html|access-date=October 28, 2014|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=February 21, 2014}} Other conservative media commentators, including Bill O'Reilly and Bernard Goldberg, defended Costas's remarks as factually correct and pointed out that Costas had also voiced considerable criticism of both Russia and Putin while broadcasting from Sochi. During an interview on Fox News, Goldberg said "...{{nbsp}}the idea that Costas somehow portrayed Vladimir Putin as a benign figure is ridiculous."Feldman, Josh (February 14, 2014) "O'Reilly, Goldberg Defend Bob Costas from Conservative Critics over NBC Putin Coverage" Mediaite. Retrieved February 22, 2014 [http://www.mediaite.com/tv/o%E2%80%99reilly-goldberg-defend-bob-costas-from-conservative-critics-over-nbc-putin-coverage/]O'Reilly, Bill (February 14, 2014) "Politics and the Olympics" Fox News Channel—The O'Reilly Factor. Retrieved February 22, 2014 [http://video.foxnews.com/v/3204562554001/politics-and-the-olympics/#sp=show-clips] Costas defended himself on O'Reilly's broadcast on March 3, reiterating that he criticized Putin immediately preceding and following the statements that were questioned. O'Reilly then aired a portion of an Olympic commentary in which Costas was pointedly critical of the Russian leader. Costas also indicated that Senator John McCain, who had been among those who had initially criticized Costas, had called Costas to apologize after hearing the full segment in context.{{cite news| author = Wemple, Erik | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/erik-wemple/wp/2014/03/04/nbcs-bob-costas-sen-john-mccain-mend-fences-on-putin/ | newspaper = The Washington Post | title= NBC's Bob Costas, Sen. John McCain mend fences on Putin| date= March 4, 2014 | access-date = August 18, 2014}}

While visiting the University of Maryland in November 2017 for a roundtable discussion on various sports topics, Costas said the sport of football was in a decline, with evidence mounting that the repetition of concussions "destroys people's brains" and he would not allow a son with athletic talent to play it.{{cite news| author = Schad, Tom | url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2017/11/08/bob-costas-future-football-nfl-this-game-destroys-peoples-brains/842904001/ | work =USA Today | title= Bob Costas on the future of football: 'This game destroys people's brains'| date= November 8, 2017 | access-date = January 26, 2018}} Costas had been scheduled to work Super Bowl LII, his eighth as a host (despite stepping down from Football Night in America in favor of his successor Mike Tirico, Costas was to return while Tirico prepped to lead NBC's coverage of the 2018 Winter Olympics, set to begin a few days later). However, the network announced shortly before the game that Liam McHugh would instead join Dan Patrick as a co-host, leading to speculation that NBC removed Costas from the NFL's biggest game over his comments. Costas originally denied such, saying it made more sense for McHugh, who had been hosting Thursday night games on NBC, to serve in that capacity.{{cite news| author = Putterman, Alex | url=http://awfulannouncing.com/nbc/bob-costas-wont-work-super-bowl-nbc-prompting-question-whether-anti-nfl-comments-blame.html | work = Awful Announcing | title= Bob Costas won't work Super Bowl for NBC, even though he's also not working the Olympics| date= January 22, 2018 | access-date = January 26, 2018}} However, he later admitted in an interview with ESPN's Outside the Lines that the comments were indeed the basis of his removal, ultimately resulting in his departure from the network after forty years.{{Cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/11/media/bob-costas-nbc-nfl/index.html |title=Bob Costas and NBC broke up over concussion remarks |last=Pallotta |first=Frank |date=February 11, 2019 |work=CNN |access-date=February 11, 2019}}

Costas was married from 1983 to 2001 to Carole "Randy" Randall Krummenacher. They had two children, son Keith (born 1986) and daughter Taylor (born 1989). Costas once jokingly promised Minnesota Twins center fielder Kirby Puckett that, if he was batting over .350 by the time his child was born, he would name the baby Kirby. Kirby was hitting better than .350, but Bob's son initially was not given a first (or second) name of Kirby. After Puckett reminded Costas of the agreement, the birth certificate was changed to "Keith Michael Kirby Costas".{{cite magazine| author = Wulf, Steve | url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1003993/index.htm | magazine = Sports Illustrated | title= The Host with the Most—Bob Costas, the Anchorman for NBC's Olympic Television Coverage, Is, as Always, Voluminously Prepared| date=July 22, 1992 | access-date = August 5, 2012| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102075907/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1003993/index.htm |archive-date= November 2, 2012}}

File:Jill Sutton & Bob Costas at 2014 MIFF.jpg]]

On March 12, 2004, Costas married his second wife, Jill Sutton. Costas and his wife now reside primarily in Newport Beach, California. Although Costas was born and raised in the New York area, he has often said he thinks of St. Louis as his hometown.{{cite news| author = Powell, William | url=http://www.stlmag.com/Q-A-A-Conversation-With-Bob-Costas/ | work = St. Louis Magazine | title= Q&A: A Conversation With Bob Costas | date= June 19, 2013 | access-date = August 18, 2014}}

Costas's children have also won Sports Emmys: Keith has won two as an associate producer on MLB Network's MLB Tonight,[http://emmyonline.org/mediacenter/sports_33rd_winners.html THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF TELEVISION ARTS & SCIENCES ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF THE 33rd ANNUAL SPORTS EMMY® AWARDS] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120504062640/http://www.emmyonline.org/mediacenter/sports_33rd_winners.html |date=May 4, 2012 }}{{cite press release |url=http://emmyonline.org/mediacenter/sports_34th_winners.html |title=THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF TELEVISION ARTS & SCIENCES ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF THE 34th ANNUAL SPORTS EMMY® AWARDS |publisher=Emmyonline.org |access-date=January 24, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131118154841/http://www.emmyonline.org/mediacenter/sports_34th_winners.html |archive-date=November 18, 2013 }} and Taylor as an associate producer on NBC's coverage of the 2012 Summer Olympics.

• 29-time Emmy Award winner (the only person in television history to have won Emmys for sports, news and entertainment)
• Eight-time NSMA National Sportscaster of the Year
• Four-time American Sportscasters Association Sportscaster of the Year
• Star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame.{{cite web|url=http://www.stlouiswalkoffame.org/inductees/?view=achievement|title=St. Louis Walk of Fame Inductees|website=St. Louis Walk of Fame|access-date=April 25, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121031162946/http://www.stlouiswalkoffame.org/inductees/?view=achievement|archive-date=October 31, 2012|url-status=dead}}
• 1999 Curt Gowdy Media Award – Basketball Hall of Fame
• 2000 TV Guide Award for Favorite Sportscaster.{{cite book|title=TV Guide Book of Lists|url=https://archive.org/details/tvguidebookoflis0000unse|url-access=registration|year=2007|publisher= Running Press|isbn= 978-0-762-43007-9|page=[https://archive.org/details/tvguidebookoflis0000unse/page/42 42]}}
• 2001 George Arents Award from Syracuse University (Excellence in Sports Broadcasting)
• 2004 Dick Schaap Award for Outstanding Journalism
• NSMA Hall of Fame inductee (class of 2012).
• 2012 Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism.{{cite web|last1=Arizona State University|title=Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication|url=https://cronkite.asu.edu/about/walter-cronkite-and-asu/walter-cronkite-award|access-date=November 23, 2016|archive-date=March 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190320212556/https://cronkite.asu.edu/about/walter-cronkite-and-asu/walter-cronkite-award|url-status=dead}}
• 2013 S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications Marty Glickman Award for Leadership in Sports Media.{{cite web|url=http://www.dailyorange.com/2008/09/bob-costas-to-address-university/|title=Bob Costas To Address University|last1=Meliker|first1=Shayna|date=March 7, 2010|publisher=The Daily Orange, Syracuse, New York, USA|access-date=July 31, 2012}}
• 2015 WAER Hall of Fame inductee{{cite news |last1=Axe |first1=Brent |title=Syracuse alum Bob Costas to be inducted into WAER Hall of Fame |url=https://www.syracuse.com/axeman/2015/09/syracuse_alum_bob_costas_to_be_inducted_into_waer_hall_of_fame.html |access-date=21 March 2023 |work=Syracuse Post-Standard |date=15 September 2015 |language=en}}
• 2017 Ford C. Frick Award – National Baseball Hall of Fame.{{cite web | last=Calcaterra | first=Craig | title=Bob Costas wins the Ford C. Frick Award | website=NBC Sports | date=2017-12-13 | url=https://www.nbcsports.com/mlb/news/bob-costas-wins-the-ford-c-frick-award | access-date=2025-02-12}}
• 2018 Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame inductee
• 2019 Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame inductee

In 1994, Costas appeared as the play-by-play announcer for the World Series (working alongside Tim McCarver) in the movie The Scout. In 1998, he appeared as himself along with his rival/counterpart Al Michaels from ABC in the movie BASEketball. Costas voiced an animated car version of himself named Bob Cutlass in the movies Cars (2006) and Cars 3 (2017).{{cite web | last=Taylor | first=Blake | title='Cars 3' Drops New Poster; Announces Voice Cast | website=Rotoscopers | date=2017-03-10 | url=https://www.rotoscopers.com/2017/03/10/cars-3-drops-new-poster-announces-voice-cast/ | access-date=2025-02-12}} He also appeared as himself in the 2001 movie Pootie Tang, where he remarks that he saw "the longest damn clip ever".

Costas's voice appeared in the 2011 documentary film Legendary: When Baseball Came to the Bluegrass, which detailed the humble beginnings of the Lexington Legends, a minor league baseball team located in Lexington, Kentucky.

In 2021, Costas played himself in Here Today directed by Billy Crystal.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2021/film/reviews/here-today-review-billy-crystal-tiffany-haddish-1234966838/|title='Here Today' Review: Billy Crystal, as a Comedy Writer Losing His Memory, Meets Tiffany Haddish in a Lively Movie With a Soft Center|website=Variety|first=Owen|last=Gleiberman|date=May 5, 2021|access-date=May 8, 2021}}

Costas has been alluded to several times in popular music. The songs "Mafioso" by Mac Dre, "We Major" by Domo Genesis and "The Last Huzzah" by Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire, all refer to Costas. He was also mentioned in a Ludacris song after Costas mentioned the rapper on the late night talk show Last Call with Carson Daly.

In June 2013, Costas provided the voice of God in the Monty Python musical Spamalot at The Muny Repertory in St. Louis.

Apart from his normal sportscasting duties, Costas has also presented periodic sports blooper reels, and announced dogsled and elevator races, on Late Night with David Letterman.

In 1985, Costas appeared on The War to Settle the Score, a pre-WrestleMania program that the World Wrestling Federation aired on MTV.

In 1993, Costas hosted the "pregame" show for the final episode of Cheers. Costas once appeared on the television program NewsRadio as himself. He hosted an award show and later had some humorous encounters with the crew of WNYX. He also had a recurring guest role as himself on the HBO series Arli$$.

Costas has been impersonated several times by Darrell Hammond on Saturday Night Live.[http://snl.jt.org/imp.php?i=228 Darrell Hammond impersonation on Bob Costas] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130905231811/http://snl.jt.org/imp.php?i=228 |date=September 5, 2013 }} Costas was "supposed" to appear in the fourth-season premiere of Celebrity Deathmatch (ironically titled "Where is Bob Costas?") as a guest-commentator, but about halfway through the episode it was revealed that John Tesh had killed him before the show to take his place. This was likely in response for Tesh not being invited back to NBC for its gymnastics coverage at the 2000 Olympics.

In 1999, Costas appeared as a guest on Space Ghost Coast to Coast during its sixth season.

On June 13, 2008, Costas appeared on MSNBC's commercial-free special coverage of Remembering Tim Russert (1950–2008).{{cite web |url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0806/13/lkl.01.html |title=CNN—Transcripts |website=transcripts.cnn.com |access-date=June 6, 2019}}

On January 30, 2009, Costas guest-starred as himself on the television series Monk in an episode titled "Mr. Monk Makes the Playoffs"'. He mentions to Captain Stottlemeyer about how Adrian Monk once helped him out of a problem several years ago with regards to a demented cat salesman. He apparently sold Costas a cat that allegedly tried to kill him with a squeeze toy. (In fact when he signs off he says, "The cat was definitely trying to kill me.")

Costas guest-voiced as himself in 2010 Simpsons episode, "Boy Meets Curl", when Homer and Marge make the U.S. Olympic curling team. Costas also guest-voiced as himself on the Family Guy episode "Turban Cowboy" in an interview with Peter after he wins the Boston Marathon by hitting everyone with his car.

On February 11, 2010, Stephen Colbert jokingly expressed his desire to stab Costas with an ice pick at the upcoming 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver so Colbert could take over as host. Costas later made a cameo appearance on the February 25, 2010, edition of Colbert's show.

In January 2013, Costas appeared as himself in the Go On episode "Win at All Costas" with Matthew Perry, wherein Ryan King auditions with him for a TV show.

Real footage of Costas from NBC's pregame show before Game{{nbsp}}5 of the 1994 NBA Finals was used in the second episode of The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story.

Costas appeared on the September 22, 2017, episode of Real Time with Bill Maher to discuss issues such as concussions and the role of political activism in professional sports (namely by Colin Kaepernick).{{cite web|title=Bill Maher and Bob Costas Take Trump to Task Over His Colin Kaepernick Rant|website=MSN|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/bill-maher-and-bob-costas-take-trump-to-task-over-his-colin-kaepernick-rant/ar-AAsndF9|access-date=November 27, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180916055939/https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/bill-maher-and-bob-costas-take-trump-to-task-over-his-colin-kaepernick-rant/ar-AAsndF9|archive-date=September 16, 2018|url-status=dead}}

In 2002, Costas was the play-by-play announcer, alongside Harold Reynolds, for Triple Play 2002 during the ballgame for PlayStation 2 and Xbox.{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/03/19/triple-play-2002 |title=Triple Play 2002 |last=Goldstein |first=Hilary |date=March 19, 2002 |website=IGN |language=en-US |access-date=June 6, 2019}}

• 1974–1976: Spirits of St. Louis Play-by-play, KMOX radio
• 1976–1981: Missouri Tigers men's basketball Play-by-play, KMOX radio
• 1976–1979: NFL on CBS Play-by-play
• 1979–1980: Chicago Bulls Play-by-play, WGN-TV
• 1980–2018: NBC Sports Play-by-play & studio host
• 1980–1983: NFL on NBC Play-by-play
• 1983–1989: MLB on NBC #2 play-by-play
• 1984–1992, 2006–2016: NFL on NBC Studio Host[http://www.hbo.com/costasnow/bios/bob_costas.html HBO: Costas Now] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081220062219/http://www.hbo.com/costasnow/bios/bob_costas.html |date=December 20, 2008 }}
• 1988–1994: Later Host
• 1990–1997, 2002: NBA on NBC Studio Host
• 1992–2016: Summer Olympics Primetime Host
• 1993: Notre Dame Football on NBC Alternate play-by-play
• 1994–2000: MLB on NBC Lead play-by-play
• 1997–2000: NBA on NBC Lead play-by-play
• 2001–2018: Thoroughbred Racing on NBC Lead host
• 2001–2009: On the Record with Bob Costas and Costas Now Host
• 2002–2014: Winter Olympics Primetime Host
• 2002–2008: Inside the NFL Host
• 2003–2014: U.S. Open host, NBC Sports{{cite web |url=http://www.classictvsports.com/2013/06/history-of-us-open-golf-tv-coverage.html |title=History of US Open golf TV coverage (1954–present) |website=www.classictvsports.com |access-date=June 6, 2019 |archive-date=May 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190522191107/http://www.classictvsports.com/2013/06/history-of-us-open-golf-tv-coverage.html |url-status=dead }}
• 2008–2012: NHL Winter Classic Host[http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=346955 NHL.com—2008 NHL Winter Classic]{{dead link|date=January 2014}}
• 2009–present: MLB Network Studio 42 with Bob Costas Host (2009–2014), Thursday Night Baseball Play-by-play
• 2016: NBC/NFL Network Host, Thursday Night Football
• 2017–present: MLB Network play-by-play, MLB Postseason
• 2020–present: CNN Sports contributor
• 2021–present: TBS baseball studio host, 2021 NLCS

• New Yorkers in journalism

{{notelist}}

{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

{{Commons}}

{{Wikiquote}}

• {{IMDb name|182471|Bob Costas}}
• {{The Interviews name|bob-costas}}
• {{Charlie Rose guest|30}}
• [https://baseballhall.org/discover/awards/ford-c-frick/bob-costas Bob Costas] Ford C. Frick Award biography at the National Baseball Hall of Fame
• [https://news.syr.edu/blog/2023/03/21/hall-of-fame-sportscaster-bob-costas-74-reflects-on-career-baseball-and-his-love-of-syracuse-university-on-the-cuse-conversations-podcast/ Costas on the ‘’Cuse Conversations’ Podcast]

{{Navboxes top

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{{s-bef|before=Len Berman
Greg Gumbel (in 1997)}}

{{s-ttl|title=Studio host, NFL on NBC|years=1984–1992
2006–2016}}

{{s-aft|after=Jim Lampley
Mike Tirico}}

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{{s-ttl|title=Studio host, NBA Showtime|years=1990–1997}}

{{s-aft|after=Hannah Storm}}

{{s-bef|before=Bryant Gumbel}}

{{s-ttl|title=American television prime time anchor, Summer Olympic Games|years=1992–2016}}

{{s-aft|after=Mike Tirico}}

{{s-bef|before=Sean McDonough}}

{{s-ttl|title=World Series network television play-by-play announcer
(with Al Michaels in 1995 and concurrent with Joe Buck in odd numbered years)|years=1995–1999}}

{{s-aft|after=Joe Buck}}

{{s-bef|before=Marv Albert}}

{{s-ttl|title=Play-by-play announcer, NBA Finals|years=1998–2000}}

{{s-aft|after=Marv Albert}}

{{s-bef|before=Jim Nantz}}

{{s-ttl|title=American television prime time anchor, Winter Olympic Games|years=2002–2014}}

{{s-aft|after=Mike Tirico}}

{{Succession box| before = Vin Scully (in 1989) | title = Lead play-by-play announcer,
Major League Baseball on NBC| years=1994–2000| after = Jason Benetti (in 2022)}}

{{Succession box| before = Merle Harmon| title = Secondary play-by-play announcer,
Major League Baseball Game of the Week| years=1982–1989| after= Dick Stockton}}

{{s-end}}

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Category:1952 births

Category:Living people

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