He was 81. He has two daughters, Susan and Lisa, from a first marriage, and two children, Matthew and Sarah, with his second wife, Elizabeth. He was 81. PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Irv Cross, the former NFL defensive back who became the first Black man to work full-time as a sports analyst on national television, died … Irv Cross Wife, Children. He died at the age of 81 Cross Sunday morning near his home in Roseville, Mn. Per the Eagles, Cross died while near his Minnesota home and is survived by his wife, Liz, and four children, among others. PHILADELPHIA - Irv Cross, the former NFL defensive back who became the first Black man to work full-time as a sports analyst on national television, died Sunday. By Richard Sandomir Irv Cross, a Pro Bowl defensive back with two NFL teams who later made history as the first Black full-time analyst for a network television sports show, died Sunday in a hospice in North Oaks, Minnesota. teams who later made history as the first Black full-time television analyst for a network television sports show, died on Sunday in a hospice in North Oaks, Minn. He was 81 years old.He is survived by his wife, Liz; four children, Susan, Lisa, Matthew, and Sarah; grandson Aiden; brothers Raymond, Teal, and Sam; sisters Joan, Jackie, Julia, Pat, and Gwen; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and in-laws. Cross arranged for his son March to go to the 2017 NFC Championship game in Philly as his replacement since his failure. Sports Irv Cross, seen here in 1986, played in the league from 1961-69, and then spent 23 years with CBS as an NFL analyst. The cause was ischemic cardiomyopathy, a heart disease, said his wife, Liz Cross… CBS announced Cross has passed away. "Our thoughts are with Irv Cross' family," the Vikings posted on Twitter . One of 15 children of a Hammond, Ind., steelworker and his wife, Cross almost snubbed the Eagles to sign with the AFL's New York Titans. Irv Cross, a former NFL cornerback and broadcaster for CBS Sports, passed away Sunday morning near his home in Roseville, Minnesota. Irv Cross, NFL player, pioneer Black analyst, dies at 81 The former NFL defensive back was the first Black man to work full-time as a sports analyst on national television. Heck for every sports fan. Irv Cross, a Pro Bowl defensive back with two N.F.L. Former Eagles cornerback, a two-time Pro Bowler, Irv Cross dies at 81 (Getty Images) Irv Cross, who spent nine seasons as an NFL cornerback and later became the first Black man to work full-time as a sports analyst on national television, died at 81. He was 81. The other former Eagles are (from left) Tommy McDonald and Maxie Baughn. It was must-see TV for every NFL fan. … Cross is survived by his wife, Liz Cross, and their four children. The cause was ischemic cardiomyopathy, a heart disease, said his wife, Liz Cross. The pregame show featured, among others, Brent Musburger, Irv Cross, Jack Whitaker, Phyllis George, Jimmy the Greek, and Jayne Kennedy through the years. Irv Cross (right) and two other Eagles-turned-Rams chat with Los Angeles coach George Allen before a game in November 1966.