NBC Removes Al Michaels From NFL Playoff Coverage

In a move that appeared to surprise Michaels, per the 'New York Post'
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Dec 13, 2023 1:00 AM CST
In a First Since 2006, Al Michaels Is Out at NBC for NFL Playoffs
NBC Sports commentator Al Michaels reports from the sidelines before an NFL game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Buffalo Bills in Pittsburgh, on Dec. 15, 2019.   (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic, File)

Al Michaels won't be calling an NFL playoff game for NBC for the first time since the network returned to televising the league in 2006, the AP reports. NBC confirmed to the AP that Michaels won't be working the playoffs. The development was first reported by the New York Post. The 79-year-old Michaels was the voice of Sunday Night Football from 2006 through 2021 before leaving for Amazon Prime Video's Thursday night package when his contract expired. He has called 11 Super Bowls, including five for NBC. The Post reports Michaels was "caught off guard" when questioned by the newspaper about the network's decision, seeming surprised to find out he wouldn't be calling a playoff game for NBC.

Michaels retained an announcer emeritus role at NBC and called an AFC wild card game last year with analyst Tony Dungy when the Jacksonville Jaguars rallied from a 27-point, first-half deficit to defeat the Los Angeles Chargers 31-30. (The Post says Michaels and Dungy "were widely panned for a perceived lack of enthusiasm.") NBC has three games during the wild card round Jan. 14-16, including one being streamed on Peacock. The Sunday night crew of Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth will call two games. Noah Eagle and Todd Blackledge will have the other. Eagle and Blackledge, who just completed their first season together working Big Ten games for NBC, will also call next Saturday's matchup between Pittsburgh and Cincinnati. (More Al Michaels stories.)

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