Al Trautwig (February 26, 1956 – February 23, 2025), a longtime sports commentator, passed away just days before his 69th birthday. He was best known for his work with MSG Network, ABC, NBC, NBC Sports Network, and USA Network. Most recently, he hosted pre- and post-game shows for the New York Knicks and Rangers while occasionally filling in for play-by-play commentary.
Early Life and Education
Trautwig began his sports career at a young age, working as a stick boy for the New York Islanders and a ball boy for the New York Nets, both of which played at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. He attended H. Frank Carey Junior-Senior High School in Franklin Square, New York, before earning a business degree from Adelphi University in 1978. His first broadcasting experience came that same year, calling New York Apollo soccer matches on WBAU and later WMCA. He was inducted into Adelphi’s Athletics Hall of Fame in 1991.
Broadcasting Career
Trautwig’s career spanned decades, covering a variety of sports. In the 1980s, he hosted USA Network’s NHL coverage, often incorporating humor into his segments. He also worked with WWF (now WWE) on sponsor plugs and occasionally guest-hosted Hockey Central on Versus.
He played a key role in New York sports media, serving as the host for MSG Vault, which featured vintage Knicks and Rangers footage. From 1991 to 2001, he anchored Yankees pre- and post-game shows on MSG Network, even calling innings from the broadcast booth.
Trautwig covered eight Olympic Games and won multiple New York Sports Emmys for his reporting on the Yankees, Knicks, and Rangers. In 2006, he expanded his reach by hosting NBC’s Football Night in America radio show for Westwood One.
Other Sports Coverage
Beyond mainstream sports, Trautwig was a versatile broadcaster, covering events such as the Ford Ironman World Championship and the ING New York City Marathon. He worked as a pit reporter for the Indianapolis 500 (1986-87) and co-anchored the Tour de France for both ABC in the 1980s and Versus from 2004 to 2007. He also provided commentary for the US Open tennis tournament from 2005 to 2008.
Gymnastics and Controversies
Starting in 2000, Trautwig became NBC’s lead gymnastics announcer, covering multiple Olympic Games. He focused on personal athlete stories, sometimes drawing criticism for dramatic comparisons, such as likening an athlete’s injury to “a tear in a wedding dress before walking down the aisle.”
His most controversial moment came during the 2016 Rio Olympics when he repeatedly referred to Simone Biles’ adoptive parents as her grandparents, refusing to acknowledge them as her parents. Despite backlash, he defended his remarks on Twitter before eventually deleting the comments. NBC removed him from gymnastics commentary after the Games.
Death
Al Trautwig passed away on February 23, 2025, after receiving treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer. His son, Alex, confirmed the news the following day.
Legacy
Trautwig’s career spanned more than four decades, making him a familiar voice across various sports. Despite controversies, he left a lasting impact on sports broadcasting, earning industry recognition and a loyal audience.
