Amazon Prime Video Makes Decision on Al Michaels: Report

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Andrew McCarty | Last updated Dec 11, 2024 9:51 AM ET

Three years ago Amazon Prime Video landed legendary play-by-play man Al Michaels for its NFL on Prime games on Thursday nights.

The network paired Michaels alongside beloved college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit in a broadcast marriage that puzzled some, but intrigued others. In the first two seasons of "Thursday Night Football" on Prime Video, though, Michaels faced criticism for his lack of enthusiasm in the broadcast booth.

Some of that had to do with the lack of interesting matchups while Michaels held some of the blame as well. However, the 2024 season has shown a different, more youthful, Michaels and Amazon Prime Video appears to be taking note.

According to a report from Andrew Marchand of "The Athletic," executives at Amazon Prime Video expect Michaels to return next 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," Marchand wrote.

Here's more, via The Athletic:

The plan is for Michaels to go year-by-year. He has said many times in the past that he will know when it is time to hang up his headset. Amazon and Michaels declined comment.

Last year, Michaels was left out of the playoff broadcast booth rotation after NBC chose to go with up-and-comer Noah Eagle over Michaels for its second game of the opening weekend. Michaels was caught off guard by the decision, as he thought he would be on the post-season in his NBC emeritus role.

NBC made the controversial decision to move on from Michaels following his 11th Super Bowl call in February 2022, paving the way for Mike Tirico.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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