The Greater New Orleans area mourns the loss of a sports media giant: Ed Daniels, who has passed away at the age of 67. Daniels’ extensive coverage of sports at all levels during his 40-plus year career, coupled with his unique and captivating voice, made him a legend.

“Love. Thank you all. In memory of Ed Daniels, a best friend who lived a full life,” noted his best friend Ken Trahan. He and Daniels covered sports for Crescent City Sports in recent years. Trahan wrote a heartfelt farewell to Daniels on the website.

He left an indelible mark by covering high school prep games and professional games, as well as notable figures and events in the city and surrounding communities.

“I have known Ed Daniels for over 40 years. Just a great guy and a great friend. He redefined the coverage of prep sports in our area… We will miss him,” Mike Detillier wrote about Daniels.

He had a great sense of timing in his reporting style. I remember hearing Daniels do his reports every night on the local station as a middle school student. I never imagined that one day I would be sitting in the press box with someone as well-known as Ed Daniels.

On behalf of Sports Illustrated’s Saints News Network, our prayers and thoughts are with his wife, Robin, family members, friends and close colleagues in the industry.

About Ed Daniels, courtesy of Crescent City Sports

“Ed Daniels, a New Orleans native who created the city’s first high school sports broadcast during a five-decade career as a Louisiana sportscaster, died Friday of complications from a heart attack last month. He was 67.

Daniels spent 11 days in a hospital near Los Angeles before being flown back to New Orleans on August 5.

Before the term multimedia journalist became common in the media industry, Daniels already had experience with the three main forms of journalism.

Daniels’ primary home was television, where he visited the homes of New Orleans sports fans for more than 40 years – first at WDSU-TV and the last 33 years at WGNO-TV, where he became the station’s first and to date only sports director.”

You can read more about Ed Daniels’ life here.