Will Al Michaels’ 3rd Season on Amazon Prime’s ‘Thursday Night Football’ Be His Last?

When legendary sportscaster Al Michaels joined Amazon Prime Video’s “Thursday Night Football” broadcast booth in 2022, he served as a comforting presence for fans new to streaming live sports.

The games have successfully attracted a younger fan base, shifting away from traditional TV. Michaels’ iconic status helped elevate the game into a must-watch event that kicks off the NFL weekend, transforming what was once a night of ragged play due to short rest.

This Thursday, Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit return to the booth as Prime Video enters its third season, featuring a preseason matchup between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Indianapolis Colts. The first regular season game airs on September 12. However, questions linger about whether this will be Michaels’ swan song, as he turns 80 later this year. He recently shared his thoughts about the future in a Zoom conversation from his Brentwood home.

Michaels commented humorously when asked who should portray him in a film about the life of his former “Monday Night Football” partner John Madden, directed by David O. Russell and starring Nicholas Cage. “I could play myself,” Michaels joked. “Greg Kinnear, who is a friend, could play me. We trust him. I mean Leonardo DiCaprio? Brad Pitt? I don’t need any of that stuff. Kinnear is a regular guy.”

Discussing the current season’s strong lineup of “Thursday Night Football” games, Michaels noted that about a dozen should be highly competitive. “They gave us a tremendous number of divisional match-ups, including the Los Angeles Rams and the San Francisco 49ers on December 12,” he said. This season represents a significant shift for Prime Video, and Michaels believes the NFL has grown comfortable with “Thursday Night Football,” not just the game itself but also the shoulder programming involving Ryan Fitzpatrick, Andrew Whitworth, Charissa Thompson, Richard Sherman, and Tony Gonzalez. Taylor Rooks, in particular, appeals to a younger generation.

Michaels also mentioned that a pivotal moment last season was when the NFL allocated a playoff game to Peacock. “It showed that streaming is very important to the league,” he said. This shift could be a reason why the NBA is more comfortable with Amazon, as some NBA owners have commented positively on Prime Video’s presentation of NFL games.

When asked about any potential role in Amazon Prime’s upcoming NBA coverage starting in the 2025-26 season, Michaels was candid. “I don’t think so. It’s a long-term thing for Amazon, and they should form a group that can do this for many years,” he stated. “I love doing the NBA, but that was a long time ago. I’m happy just to spectate.”

Entering the final year of his contract, Michaels shared his thoughts on his future plans. “Right now, I feel great, and I’m looking forward to the season. I’ve trained myself to live in the present,” he said. While acknowledging that a discussion about the future will happen eventually, he is currently focused on enjoying the next few months. “The people at Amazon have been fabulous. We’ll see how things unfold after the season.”

Finally, on the use of artificial intelligence to create customized Paris Olympics highlights recaps for Peacock using his voice, Michaels recounted his initial reaction. “I was in Paris, and people said, ‘Well, you’re here and you’re doing this,’ and I said, ‘No.’ I was just a guest of NBC and did zero,” he said. Hearing the AI version of his voice was a surreal experience. “Some of it is even better than the way I would have said it. Part of me felt this is something new and different, so I chose to embrace it. I’ve only heard good things about it.”

Source: Los Angeles Times, Prime Video