After graduating from the University of Utah in 1967, Trumpy was selected by the AFL's Bengals in the 12th round of the 1968 Common Draft. Despite his low draft selection, Trumpy worked hard in the offseason and managed to earn the starting tight end spot in the team's lineup. He didn't disappoint in his rookie season, recording 37 receptions for 639 yards and three touchdowns, and earning a place on the AFL Western Division All-Star team. In 1969, Trumpy was selected by The Sporting News as the AFL's All-League tight end. The following year, 1970, with the Bengals now part of the NationalFootball League following the AFL-NFL merger, Trumpy had the best season of his career, catching 37 passes for 835 yards and nine touchdowns. In a game against the Houston Oilers, Trumpy became the first Bengals tight end to record three touchdown receptions in a single game, helping his team to a 31-31 tie.
1977
Trumpy continued to play for the Bengals until 1977, earning two trips to the Pro Bowl in 1970 and 1973. In his final season, he caught only 18 passes for 251 yards and one touchdown, but his touchdown was one of the most memorable plays of his career. In a November 20 game against the Miami Dolphins during a driving rainstorm, Trumpy caught a 29-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Ken Anderson on a flea flicker play that involved three players handling the ball before it was thrown to him. First, Anderson handed the ball off to running back Archie Griffin, who then pitched the ball to receiver John McDaniel running in the opposite direction. McDaniel then handed the ball back to Anderson, setting up his 29-yard touchdown pass to Trumpy. The Bengals went on to defeat the Dolphins 23-17, knocking them out of playoff contention. "It was magic", said Trumpy about the play,
Career statistics
Trumpy finished his 10-year career with 298 receptions for 4,600 yards and 35 touchdowns in 128 games. His 4,600 receiving yards, 35 touchdown receptions, and 15.4 yards per catch average are the most ever by a Bengals tight end.
Broadcasting career
After his playing career, Trumpy turned to NFL broadcasting. In 1978 he joined NBC as a color analyst for telecasts of AFC games, working primarily with Sam Nover through 1980, then with Bob Costas and Don Criqui. He and Criqui also served as NBC Radio's lead NFL announcers in 1985-1986, calling Monday Night Football and Super Bowls XX and XXI. In 1992, Trumpy replaced Bill Walsh as NBC's lead NFL analyst, teaming with Dick Enberg until 1995. The team of Enberg and Trumpy called Super Bowls XXVII and XXVIII. He would then be paired with Tom Hammond and Charlie Jones until NBC lost the AFC package to CBS following the 1997 season. Trumpy hosted a weeknight sports talk show on WLW-AM in Cincinnati, Ohio from 1980-1989. He left the show to be able to work more assignments at NBC Sports, including PGA Tour golf and the Olympics. He was replaced on the sports talk show by Cris Collinsworth. Trumpy was an analyst for Sunday Night Football on Westwood One radio from 2000-2007, and also called playoff games for the network. He was most frequently paired with Joel Meyers on the Sunday night games. During the first round of the 2006-07 NFL playoffs, Trumpy and Enberg were in the broadcast booth together for the first time since the, covering the Colts-Chiefs for Westwood One. They were paired again for the Patriots-Chargers the following weekend. Trumpy was named the 2014 recipient of the Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award, given by the Pro Football Hall of Fame for lifetime achievement in NFL broadcasting.
Personal life
Trumpy is married to his wife Pat, and together they have two sons, and they also have six grandchildren as well. The couple lives in the Cincinnati suburb of Glendale, Ohio. He is a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity.
