His wife, ESPN broadcaster Hannah Storm, said the family was devastated by the sudden loss.

"Our family is heartbroken by the sudden and unexpected passing of Dan," Storm said in a statement posted to social media. "He was a devoted husband of over 30 years, loving father to our three daughters, and cherished friend to so many. His loss is immeasurable."

She described him as "truly one of a kind and, quite simply, the person everyone wanted to be around," adding that "when he walked into a room, he brought the energy, the laughter and the people together."

Hicks joined NBC in 1992 after three years at CNN and spent 35 years with the network. He became the lead golf announcer in 2000 after serving as a tower announcer from 1995 to 1999, and he called 27 U.S. Opens, 23 U.S. Women's Opens, the Ryder Cup, PGA Tour events and the British Open. He was on the call for 27 tournament victories by Tiger Woods, including three U.S. Opens.

Golf was his favorite sport, and colleagues remembered the warmth he brought to the booth as much as his knowledge of the game.

"This is a tough one, I mean really tough," said Robert Maltbie, a golf broadcast colleague and friend, in remarks to Golf Channel.

The PGA Tour said in a statement that Hicks' voice "filled our living rooms with his steady narration of countless golf broadcasts, calling some of the game's biggest moments," and that "the sound of his voice is woven into our memories of the game."

USGA CEO Mike Whan called him "a true friend to the game and to the USGA, but more importantly, a wonderful person whose warmth, generosity, and friendship touched everyone fortunate enough to know him."

Hicks also called swimming at eight Olympic Games alongside analyst Rowdy Gaines, chronicling Michael Phelps' eight gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Games and Katie Ledecky's 14 medals across four Olympics from 2012 to 2024. He covered skiing at the Winter Games as well.

In a joint statement, NBC Sports executives Rick Cordella, Sam Flood and Molly Solomon called Hicks "an extraordinary colleague, friend and person" and "an exceptional storyteller and caller of games and events who elevated some of the biggest moments in sports history."

They noted that beyond his on-air work, "Dan was a better person who welcomed teammates with a smile, a joke, or a word of encouragement, sometimes all three in the same sentence."

Hicks was in his seventh season calling Notre Dame football, having worked the booth from 2013 to 2016 before returning in 2024. He had been scheduled to call the Fighting Irish's game Saturday against Boston College.

CBS Sports chairman Sean McManus said Hicks "was an integral part of some of the most iconic sporting events of the last three decades. But above that, you will never find a better husband, father or friend. And a true gentleman in every way."

In a September interview with the Associated Press, Hicks reflected on his long tenure at a single network.

"I'm incredibly lucky to stay at one place this long," he said. "It takes a lot of things going your way as far as NBC continuing to have the properties that I've been a part of through the years. So lots of variables, lots of things that can happen in your career. But I think I appreciate it more and more the longer it's been."

Hicks is survived by Storm and their three daughters, Hannah, Ellery and Riley.

"Our three daughters and I are heartbroken," Storm said. "We are grateful for the love and support surrounding our family during this incredibly difficult time. There are simply no words to express how much he will be missed."