NBC removes Al Michaels from NFL playoff coverage

Al Michaels moved off NBC's playoff assignment

Al Michaels, who had been named into an 'emeritus' role at NBC after leaving in 2022, will not be a part of NBC's NFL playoff coverage, the network has confirmed. Michaels had joined Amazon's Prime Video as the play-by-play announcer for 'Thursday Night Football' package and has continued in that role this season alongside Kirk Herbstreit.

However, Michaels was allowed to return to NBC for one of the network's postseason games during Wild Card weekend. He teamed up with ex-NFL head coach Tony Dungy for the Los Angeles Chargers-Jacksonville Jaguars game, where the Jaguars had a remarkable comeback. Michaels and Dungy faced criticism for their lack of excitement throughout the game, but it should be noted that 'Thursday Night Football' games are not always the most thrilling due to the short rest period for players.

According to the New York Post, Michaels was surprised when he learned about the possibility of being removed from his playoff assignment. During an interview in November, he defended himself against the negative judgments. Michaels has a long history in football broadcasting, having called 'Sunday Night Football' on NBC and 'Monday Night Football' on ABC.

New announcers assigned to the game

Instead of Al Michaels and Tony Dungy, the game has been assigned to 27-year-old play-by-play man Noah Eagle and Todd Blackledge. Kathryn Tappen will be the sideline reporter. This crew is NBC's lead team for its Big Ten prime time football package. NBC's No. 1 'Sunday Night Football' booth, Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth, will call the other game and its divisional round game.

Noah Eagle is the son of respected announcer Ian Eagle and will also be calling the Super Bowl this year for Nickelodeon's child-geared broadcast. Eagle, Blackledge, and Tappen will be calling NBC's broadcast between the Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday, Dec. 23.

Looking ahead in the NFL season

As the 2023 NFL season continues, fans can expect to see unique alternate and throwback uniforms worn by NFL teams. These special uniforms add a unique element to the games and create excitement among both players and fans. It's always interesting to see the creativity and design choices of the teams as they pay tribute to their history or try out new looks.

Whether it's a classic throwback uniform or a bold alternate design, these uniforms often generate buzz and give fans something to talk about. From retro-inspired jerseys to modern twists on traditional colors, the alternate and throwback uniforms offer a glimpse into the rich history and evolution of the NFL.