Al Michaels’ relationship with NBC, his employer from 2006 to 2021, is reportedly not on happy terms right now.
In a surprise, the network has decided to remove Michaels from its 2023-24 NFL postseason coverage. Though Michaels left NBC in 2022 and signed on for the Amazon Prime Video’s “Thursday Night Football” program, NBC brought him back to call the Jacksonville Jaguars-Los Angeles Chargers Super Wild Card Game last season.
Andrew Marchand of the New York Post reported on Tuesday that Michaels will not be part of NBC’s playoff coverage. Instead of Michaels, Noah Eagle (the son of CBS Sports’ play-by-play voice Ian Eagle) and Todd Blackledge will call one of the games.
Not only did Marchand add that Michaels was surprised by NBC’s decision, but the former reported that the relationship between the legendary play-by-play voice and NBC has been filled with “tension” for a while:
“There has long been tension between Michaels and top NBC executives — though they have done their best to hide it from public view, even giving Michaels an emeritus title when he was replaced.
There was a failure to truly define what the emeritus role really meant, except for calling the playoff game.
NBC decided to move on from Michaels, even though he longed to stay at the top perch on “Sunday Night Football.” NBC had long promised Tirico the lead role and kept true to its word even after Michaels went out with a tremendous performance for NBC in Super Bowl LVI in February 2022.”
“It’s in my deal,” Michaels told the New York Post when they asked for comment. “Where are you hearing that from? That’s part of my deal. Are you hearing something that I’m not hearing?”
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Amid rumors of retirement, Michaels also plans to return to the broadcast booth for TNF next year, Marchand added. But for Michaels’ longtime fan, the unfortunate reality appears to be that he has already called his final NFL playoff game.
NBC’s top “Sunday Night Football” commentary team of Mike Tirico (Michaels’ replacement) and longtime analyst Cris Collinsworth will call the network’s other Wild Card Round broadcast. CBS’ top commentary team of Jim Nantz, Tony Romo and Tracy Wolfson will call Super Bowl 58 on Feb. 11.
Regarded by many as the greatest sports announcer of all-time, Michaels has been the lead voice for 11 Super Bowl contests. He cemented his legacy in sports lore 43 years ago with the iconic call of the “Miracle on Ice” game between the United States and the Soviet Union in the 1980 Winter Olympics.
