While working at WLEX-TV in Lexington, Kentucky, Hammond's tenure at NBC began in 1984, when he was named as a co-host of the inaugural Breeders' Cup alongside Dick Enberg.
It was supposed to be a one-shot deal for Hammond, but network execs were so impressed, he ended up getting a long-term contract.
He was the network's play-by-play voice for its coverage of Notre Dame football alongside analyst Mike Mayock.
At the Winter Olympics, Hammond is the main commentator for figure skating and ice dancing.
Hammond teamed with Cris Collinsworth to call the secondary Saturday Wild Card playoff game for NBC each year, including Chiefs-Colts in January 2007, Redskins-Seahawks in 2008, and Falcons-Cardinals in 2009, but teamed with Joe Gibbs and Joe Theismann for the Jets-Bengals Wild Card playoff game in January 2010.