Mike Tirico turned in a legendary performance.
Football fans are praising NBC Sports’ Mike Tirico after a practically perfect performance in the broadcast booth on Sunday night.
The Pittsburgh Steelers hosted the Baltimore Ravens on ‘Sunday Night Football’, with the winner taking the AFC North crown and the loser going home. Tyler Loop missed a game-winning 44-yard field goal on the final play, securing the division for the Steelers.
Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth had the call for NBC Sports. And though Collinsworth remains one of the more polarizing personalities in NFL media, everyone agreed that Tirico absolutely crushed his performance in the booth.
Particularly, fans were impressed with how Tirico built up the excitement for Loop’s game-winning field goal attempt. And how he called the nailbiting play:
“He really was perfect. The build up. The reaction. Then the silence so fans at home could hear the cheering and cheer along with them and just take it all in for a minute. Perfection ❤️,” a user said.
“We might get tired of hearing Tirico’s voice calling every single game of every single sport, but you got to respect the professionalism and talent he has. Classic storyteller,” a fan said.
“This is an incredible call by Tirico, every bit of it. The backstory, the slow scene-set that builds to natural, unforced emotion, the spontaneity. There’s a humongous difference between this and just shrieking or reciting a line you prepared 3 hours or 3 days ago. 10/10,” another said.
“Mike Tirico called an incredible game, but the setup to the missed field goal was special. Elevated an already cinematic moment,” a fan commented.
“We need to appreciate how good Mike Tirico is. He rises to EVERY moment,” another said.
“I don’t know how much money Mike Tirico makes but it’s not enough,” said a fan.
Tirico had the difficult task of replacing Al Michaels as the voice of ‘SNF’ when he took over in 2022. So far, so good.
Mike Tirico & Cris Collinsworth Will Call Super Bowl 60
Fortunately for the folks who are enjoying Tirico this season, he’ll be in the booth for Super Bowl 60 alongside Collinsworth. The duo will call the big game at Levi’s Stadium (home of the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers) on Feb. 9.
This will be the first Super Bowl that Tirico calls. During his 10 seasons as the voice of ‘Monday Night Football’, ESPN wasn’t part of the NFL’s Super Bowl broadcast rotation. But he finally gets that opportunity here at NBC.
Collinsworth called Super Bowls 46, 49, 52 and 56 with Al Michaels at NBC. Four years later, Collinsworth will finally be back in the booth for the big game.
