we want to take a look back at frank gifford, a truly special man. >> we're in our 29th year of marriage. you know you've got to learn to go, "that's frank." >> congratulations. >> and these have been recycled yet again. thank you, sweetheart. >> i'm going to get frank to do a calendar. >> frank's smoke onin' e in' smokin', i'd buy this calendar. >> you better pray you look this good at 83. hi sweetheart. i'm proud of you. >> you guys, by now have heard the news about frank gifford. he passed away. kath, i don't know if you're watching, you're probably not. complete peace in his life. he would want you to know that had nothing. but they had their faith. and every time they moved to a new town, his mother and father would go to church avenue week as a family. and that kept them together as a family through the darkest, darkest times. he was so grateful. he knew what hard work was. he never had an entitled moment in his life. and we will miss him so much. and i prayed that the lord would take him the way he wanted to go. so i thank the lord for that, for his grace to us as a family. and i

frank gifford. a hall of famer and he also had a tremendous career as a broadcaster on monday night football. >> but the last 29 years of his life were defined by his relationship with kathie lee who handled his death with remarkable strength and grace. >> you think he's looking down here tonight saying well done, my love, well done. >> yeah. yeah. >> kathie lee was still emotional when i spoke to her. both of them were being unductedinducted into the broftadcasting and cable hall of fame. >> i have to say my incredible husband who taught me so much, he was the most generous person i've ever met. >> frank was 84 when he died on kathie lee held no funeral, instead throwing a private party to honor his life. just eight days later she returned to work. >> i j just want everybody to know that this is a man who was at complete peace in his life. he might have been the happiest most contented person in the world at this point in his life. i'm grateful that it despite at times having nothing to give. >> th

a touching tribute to the late frank gifford. >>> it is winesday wednesday and it is time for the pop culture who knew. and kathie lee is across the street to hand out 11 $100 for anybody who gets the song right or a signed c.d. if they don't. correspondent. and now, we asked this question, this actor appeared in two of the top ten films of 2015. renner or sandra bullock? >> it is jeremy renner, he was in aavengers" and he will was in "mission impossible." there is a new sequel to both of those coming out in 2016. >> "25" by adele became the top selling album of all time, and how many days did it take? >> three days. >> very smart lady. >> that is amazing when you think of it. >> taylor swift would have had the best selling album in two years in a row, but then -- her. >> and which television series the 2014-2015 season? "empire" or "the voice" or "monday night football." >> they are going to love it, because it s is their era. >> and so what is it? >> sunday night football is the number one show, and football was also number three, and six and 11. >> and "empire" is not that shabby e

this year we lost an important part of our family, and so we want to look back and honor frank giffordd, football legend and a tr truly special man. >> we are in the 29th year of marriage, and you know what you have to learn to do? that frank. >> congratulations. >> and these have have been recycled yet again. we are green around here. thank you, sweetheart. >> i'm going to get frank to do a calendar. >> he is smoking. >> he is smoking hot. >> i'd buy that cal endar. >> and you better pray you look this good at 83. hi, sweetheart. i'm proud of you. >> you guys by now have heard the news about frank gifford who passed a away and kath, i don't know if you are watching, and you are probably not, but i miss you and i love you. >> this is a man who was at complete peace at his life. he would want you all to know that when he was a little boy, they had nothing, but they had their faith, and every time they moved to a new town, his mother and father would go to church every week as a family. that kept them together as a family through the darkest, darkest times. he was so grateful. he knew wh

. >> reporter: hall of famer frank gifford passed away from natural causes at the age of 84. his family had his brain studied and released this statement. "our suspicions that he was suffering from the debilitating effects of head trauma were confirmed when a team of pathologists recently diagnosed his condition as that of chronic traumatic encephalopathy. it's become a who's who of former nfl stashes. enough to line a wing of the hall of fame. who have complained about or are diagnosed with ailments connected to repeated blows to the head. the new film "concussion" starring will smith as dr. ben anamalu, the real-life physician who diagnosed cte, a brain disease caused by brain trauma affecting a number of pro players. in a statement released today about the movie the nfl said in part, the nfl has made numerous changes to the game to enhance player health and safety at all levels of football. we are seeing measurable results including a 34% decrease in concussions in nfl games since the 2012 season." "nightline" first reported on cte in the early days of dr. amalu's findings

they know frank gifford's name and now they know he had c.t.e. that takes this to a whole new level. >> brown: christine brennan is a sports columnist for usa today. >> i think, like other social issues, be it drunk driving, be it cigarettes-- things that you look at and say, wow, we have a different view of that than we did 20, 30 years ago-- concussions and head trauma, that is another area where we have changed. >> brown: frontline updated the story just last night, and its review of research at boston university found c.t.e. in 87 or 91 recently deceased former n.f.l. players. and in 131 0f 165 players at the high school, college and pro levels combined. >> i think it was the most significant breakthrough in modern neurological sports medicine, and that is that a modern athlete, in a helmeted sport like football, was found to have later-in-life brain degeneration. >> brown: earlier this year, a judge accepted an n.f.l. settlement that will pay out $1 billion to former players and families, but as a part of the deal, the league refused to say

. >> football player mike webster was the first of so many, including junior seau and the late frank gifford. their cte discovered in autopsies after death. this week the federal government announced a $16 million effort to identify cte in living patients. >> you can't really understand the risk people die. >> as the movie "concussion" adds to growing concerns about football, the nfl welcomes the discussion. quote, the nfl has made numerous changes to the game to enhance player health and safety at all levels of football. they are also funding their own research and developing better protective equipment. moviegoers drawing their on conclusions this afternoon. >> this movie has changed my perception as far as football is concerned and understanding just how how much these guys go through. >> an unflattering spotlight on america's favorite sport. blake mccoy, nbc news, los angeles. >>> when we come back, behind the scenes with perhaps the most famous chorus line in a big milestone. >>> finally tonight, an annual christmas tradition is celebrating 90 years of high kicks and ringing in the seas

." >> kathie lee's strength after the loss of her beloved husband, frank gifford and the tragic death of bobby christina. looking back at the stars we lost in 2015. >>> but our top story, gwen and blake, country christmas. >> gwen and blake are definitely taking things to the next level. they had their first date where they packed on the pda. >> the holiday timeline picked up december 23rd for this last-minute shopping in oklahoma. the couple spent the next few days at blake's home there. yesterday the 27th, the love birds flew to arizona for a cardinal game. gwen wore camo and the couple poised for photos before boarding a private jet. >> at the game everybody was talking about blake and gwen down on the sidelines. blake wore a cardinals hoodie and gwen wore a cardinals hat. they ran into a fellow celebrity, david spade, while down on the field. and blake's ex-wife miranda lambert started following gwen or twitter. >> and more miranda news. blake's ex instagramed two photos, first this adorable christmas pick of her five dogs, then one of herself posing in a floor length fur coat han

. >> our newest colleague for glorious, fearless frank gifford. >> farewell frank gifford. a starry severe for the new york giants he was knocked out cold in 1960 by no. 60 of the philadelphia eagles. concrete chuck as he was known also left the field this year. their historic collision was captured back then by this still photo. cbs' tony verna would change that by giving us the instant replay. >> professional football in america is a special game ceo ed sabol used all of hollywood's tricks to bring football's bruising drama into our living rooms. >> the game is beautiful, i love it, that's the way i want to portray it. >> he made football a national obsession. you can thank him or blame him for that. yogi berra loved baseball, a player and a manager. >> when you come the a fork in the road, take it. i don't which seemed to capture something true while making no sense. yogi, the future ain't what it used to be. stuart scott shared his exuberance for sports soon. george barris created the city's koach the beverly hillbilly's gentleman jalopy and this. >> the batmobile. shin

. >> executed double reverse sends frank gifford flying around. stand by me oh stand by me >> please join me in welcoming my friend, my father, my hero. >> we must get the american public to look past the glitter, beyond the showmanship, to the reality, the hard substance of things. >> lebanese officers, massive air strikes. north veet ietnamese came into the area. about, that hollywood dream. >> do you like scary movies? >> uh-huh. >> what's your favorite scary movie? >> from wes craven, a new masterpiece in fantasy terror. it's my party and i'll cry if i want to cry if i want to cry if i want to >> blues to me is like a tonic. it's good for whatever ails you. get together let the good times roll >> fascinating. that, sir, is illogical. live long and prosper. >> and when we come back, we'll take you back down to times square for the new year's celebration. ya know, viagra helps guys with p erectile dysfunction get andr keep an erection. talk to your doctor about viagra. nask your doctor if your heart is healthy enough for sex. do not take viagra