Al Michaels.Photo:Doug Pensinger/Getty
Doug Pensinger/Getty
Legendary sports broadcaster Al Michaels will not be calling this year’s NFL Playoffs for NBC Sports, PEOPLE confirms.TheNew York PostfirstreportedTuesday that Michaels, 79, would be left off the broadcasting team amid growing criticism over his lack of enthusiasm while calling games. The Athleticalso confirmedthe news, reporting that the broadcaster — known for decades of historic calls, including the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” — would not be calling the NFL Playoffs.
Michaels has spent the last two seasons as the voice of Amazon Prime Video’s “Thursday Night Football” games, calling action during the regular season and playoffs alongside the likes of Kirk Herbstreit and Tony Dungy.
A source at NBC Sports confirmed with PEOPLE on Wednesday morning that Michaels would not be calling this year’s NFL Playoffs.
Al Michaels.Doug Pensinger/Getty
Criticism over the 79-year-old broadcaster’s enthusiasm began to mount during last year’s NFL Wild Card game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Los Angeles Chargers in what ended up being the third-largest comeback in league history.Since then, Michaels has faced routine backlash over his energy during broadcasts throughout the 2023 regular season.
Michaels responded to the mounting criticism last month during an interview with thePost, saying it was “fair” to compare him to a baseball pitcher past his prime who now cannot throw the ball as fast anymore.
Al Michaels.Frederick M. Brown/Getty
Frederick M. Brown/Getty
However, Michaels said he still planned to be in the booth next season for “Thursday Night Football” each week.“There’s no question about that in my mind,” he told thePostlast month.
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NBCannouncedMichaels had signed a three-year deal to call games, including some playoff games, back in 2022. Michaels first joined the network in 2006 after nearly three decades with ABC Sports.
source: people.com
