NFL fans had the same complaint about the legendary Al Michaels during tonight’s “Thursday Night Football” game between the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers.
Al Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit are on the call for their fifth TNF game this season. The 79-year-old is in the final year of a three-year deal he signed with Amazon Prime Video that’s believed to be worth $45 million.
Michaels is widely regarded as one of the greatest sports commentators of all time, but there have been calls for him to step away and ride off into the sunset. That was the case during the Seahawks-49ers game, with many fans expressing frustration with his lack of energy and excitement:
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Also Read: VIDEO: Everyone Noticed The Same Thing About Seahawks Superstar WR DK Metcalf During TNF vs. 49ers
Al Michaels was the lead voice of “Sunday Night Football” on NBC from 2006 to 2021, calling four Super Bowls in that period (Super Bowl 43, 46, 49, 52 and 56). He left the network after his contract expired in 2022, and Mike Tirico assumed his spot.
FOX Sports also gave up the “Thursday Night Football” package that they held for four seasons (2018 to 2021). That allowed Amazon to swoop in and pick up the package for themselves before hiring Michaels and Herbstreit.
The shake-up of NFL commentators on major networks also saw longtime FOX personalities Joe Buck and Troy Aikman leave to take over the ESPN “Monday Night Football” broadcast after signing lucrative long-term deals.
Al Michaels’ Future Beyond 2024 Is Unclear
Michaels hasn’t at all indicated if retirement is on his mind, but it might not ultimately be up to him. If Amazon decides not to renew his contract, Michaels may have no choice but to walk away.
It’s possible that FOX or CBS would hire Michaels to call games, though he wouldn’t be on the No. 1 team for either network. At any rate, fans may as well try to enjoy Al Michaels while he’s still calling games with his 80th birthday approaching.
