JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Mike Patrick, who spent 36 years as a play-by-play commentator for ESPN and was the network's NFL voice for "Sunday Night Football" for 18 seasons, has died at the age of 80.

One of the most recognized sports broadcasters in the country, Patrick got his start in broadcasting in Jacksonville – serving as the play-by-play "Voice of the Dolphins" in the early 1970s, calling several historic games for JU basketball and was inducted into JU's Hall of Fame in 2009. After leaving Jacksonville, Patrick broke into the big time – earning a spot at ESPN and becoming one of their top play-by-play announcers, having handled numerous marquee events.

"Mike Patrick called countless significant events over decades at ESPN and is one of the most influential on-air voices in our history," said Burke Magnus, president of content for ESPN. "In addition to calling ESPN's first-ever regular season NFL game and voicing the 'Sunday Night Football' franchise for 18 seasons, Mike's work on college sports was exceptional."

Patrick began in 1966 at WVSC-Radio in Somerset, Pennsylvania. In 1970, he was named sports director at WJXT-TV in Jacksonville where he provided play-by-play for Jacksonville Sharks' World Football League telecasts (1973-74) while calling JU basketball games on both radio and television. Patrick graduated from the George Washington University where he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force.