It appears that the career of the legendary Al Michaels is far from over.
After 15 years at NBC, Al Michaels signed with Amazon Prime Video to cover their ‘Thursday Night Football’ games with ESPN college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit. Amid growing criticism from fans about his on-air performance, some have wondered if the 80-year-old would walk away after this season.
According to a report from Andrew Marchand of The Athletic, Amazon Prime Video expects Michaels to continue calling their ‘TNF’ games next year. His current deal expires after this season:
“With 80-year-old sportscasting legend Al Michaels’ contract expiring at the end of the season, both he and Amazon Prime Video are expecting him to return next year, sources briefed on the discussions told The Athletic.
Michaels’ original three-year deal that pays him in the neighborhood of Joe Buck’s $15 million per season ESPN contract concludes after this year. Prime Video has an opening round playoff game this year that Michaels and his game analyst Kirk Herbstreit are scheduled to call.”
Marchand added that Michaels is taking it on a “year-by-year” basis.
Do you believe in miracles? It was awesome to meet the great sports commentator Al Michaels last Friday at Arrowhead! I also got his book signed! pic.twitter.com/QWlxnhvr6v
— Craig McMullen (@craigmcmullen53) December 4, 2024
Also Read: Al Michaels Admits A Certain Aspect Of Football Is “Rigged” As He Makes His Feelings Clear On It
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Michaels wasn’t involved in the NFL postseason coverage last season, but as Marchand noted, Amazon secured the rights to one of the postseason games. We won’t know the playoff field and schedule for another month, but we do know that Michaels and Herbstreit will be on the call for one of the Wild Card Round playoff games.
And going by Marchand’s report, that game will not be the last rodeo for Mr. Michaels.
Fans Will Miss Al Michaels Whenever He Steps Away
Throughout his tenure at Amazon Prime Video, fans have accused Michaels of sounding bored and tired in ‘TNF’ games. In Michaels’ defense, most of the games he’s called for on Amazon have been uninteresting and sloppy.
But it’s also hard to picture life without Al Michaels on NFL commentary. He has been on the mic for 11 Super Bowls, countless NFL prime-time games and iconic MLB and NHL moments, not to mention the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” that cemented him as one of the all-time greats.
So fans who’ve come to love the work of Michaels on the air should enjoy him while he’s still doing it. It’s hard to imagine now, but there will be a time when he’s no longer in your living room on a weekly basis during the NFL season.
