Al Michaels (Photo via Amazon Prime)
NFL fans were saying the same thing about the legendary Al Michaels during the New England Patriots-New York Jets “Thursday Night Football” game.
Al Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit are calling their second game together of the 2024 NFL season on Amazon Prime Video. The two were assigned Aaron Rodgers’ first home game with the Jets in over a year against New York’s archrivals.
Michaels, who turns 80 years of age in November, is one of the most beloved and accomplished sports announcers in history. But fans weren’t pleased with his performance in the broadcast booth tonight, with some even calling for him to retire:
Al Michaels needs to retire pic.twitter.com/agu8Zo8Fbj
— there’s always next year (@NextYearIGuess) September 20, 2024
Al Michaels is cooked. Was that a BUDDY RYAN slip up? pic.twitter.com/mwWWc66czB
— Big Coochie Cutter🌻♐️ (@babyfacedtwists) September 20, 2024
Al Michaels is the GOAT but he does sound bored! However, I love the fact he just says what he wants, like making fun of NY and the rat problem. BTW @KirkHerbstreit is the best football analyst on TV period! #TNFonPrime
— Michael Ball (@therealballsy) September 20, 2024
Think Al Michaels sounds sleepy now?
Wait til after his halftime feast and for it to be after 10pm on the East coast.
— Flim Flam (@wolaibingbong) September 20, 2024
Al Michaels should retire. He’s one of the greatest to ever do it, a hall of famer. He’s just too old to be exciting. He should be spending the rest of his life with family
— Duke Snyder | Jerry for President! (@NehemiahSnyder) September 20, 2024
Al Michaels needs to retire , making this game even more unwatchable than it already is
— Jai (@Jai_305_) September 20, 2024
Al Michaels needs to retire come on
— Aless (@ghostoaless) September 20, 2024
Al Michaels sounds so…bored. Not even just tired. He sounds completely disinterested in broadcasting. These #TNF games are brutal. We need some young blood in the booth.
— Nathan Wind (@matty_angles) September 20, 2024
@NFLonPrime Al Michaels is a GOAT with an iconic voice that matches even more iconic moments🐐 Now get him out of the damn box🎙️🗣️‼️ Mans is TOO OLD and TOO QUIET to be making these calls👴🏚️ Silent Al needs to retire, whether it’s his choice or not
— Brian Windhorst’s Burner (@genofanclubog) September 20, 2024
Al Michaels needs to retire he’s literally just going through the motions out there 😭
— Keegs (@kjetweetstuff) September 20, 2024
As noted by Ryan Glasspiegel of the New York Post last week, Michaels is entering the last of a three-year deal he signed with Amazon Prime Video in 2022. Michaels has been mum on retirement talk, and it’s unclear if Amazon is interested in bringing him back after the 2024 season.
Al Michaels was the voice of “Sunday Night Football” on NBC from 2006 to 2021, where he called five Super Bowls (Super Bowl 43, Super Bowl 46, Super Bowl 49, Super Bowl 52 and Super Bowl 56). After leaving the network in 2022, Michaels was replaced by Mike Tirico.
Next week, Michaels and Herbstreit will be back in the Big Apple to call the New York Giants’ home game against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium.
Al Michaels Could Be Wrapping Up His Legendary Career
Only Michaels knows deep down if he actually wants to retire, and only so many people with Prime Video know if there’s interest in retaining the iconic sports commentator after this year.
There’s a strong case to be made that Michaels is the greatest sports announcer of all time, and it would be nice if he got to go out on his terms. But we’ll just have to wait and see how things play out in the coming months.
