STWF Sports| Nov. 21, 2025 – For more than five decades, Al Michaels has been the soundtrack of American sports. From the “Miracle on Ice” to Super Bowls, NBA Finals, World Series games, and countless Sunday Night Football classics, the Hall of Fame broadcaster has narrated some of the most iconic moments in sports history. And at 81 years old, he’s not quite ready to put down the microphone.
In an appearance on the SI Media with Jimmy Traina podcast, Michaels made it clear that he hopes to continue calling Thursday Night Football on Amazon Prime Video—his broadcasting home since the streaming service took over TNF rights in 2022.
“I feel really good right now,” Michaels said. “It’s been a good year. A lot of fun. I love the people I’m working with. So if I had to make a decision today, I would want to come back.”
Michaels acknowledged Amazon could decide to go in another direction, but he insisted he still feels sharp and energized by the job.
“It’s a two-way street here,” he continued. “They could tell me, ‘Hey, we gotta move on.’ But as of this moment, I still love what I do. And again, I work with a tremendous crew. So, yeah… I’d like to continue.”
A Storied Career Across Every Era of NFL Broadcasting
Michaels’ voice has been woven into the fabric of NFL culture since the 1980s. After two decades as the face of ABC’s Monday Night Football, he transitioned to NBC Sports when ABC lost NFL rights, continuing his prime-time presence on Sunday Night Football from 2006 to 2023. His partnership with John Madden became one of the most revered broadcast duos in sports history before Madden’s retirement in 2009.
When Amazon secured the rights to TNF in 2022, the company made Michaels their marquee signing—reportedly at $15 million per season on a three-year deal. When that contract expired, he returned on a one-year agreement and now has five games remaining this season.
Whether Amazon extends him again remains an open question.
Criticism Mounts, but Michaels Stands Firm
This year, fans have voiced concerns about Michaels’ performance. A handful of mispronunciations, slow reactions, and small factual slip-ups—rare for someone known for impeccable precision—sparked debate over whether the legendary broadcaster has lost a step.
But Michaels hasn’t wavered. He believes he can still deliver at a high level and rejects the idea that age alone should define his future.
The veteran insists that, when the time comes, he will exit quietly—no fanfare, no farewell tour, no stadium tributes.
“People say, ‘Why don’t you do a victory tour?’ No,” Michaels told Dan Le Batard on South Beach Sessions earlier this year. “It would be embarrassing. When you make yourself the story, you do a disservice to the business. I don’t want to be the story.”
He added that he prefers to remain the “narrator” rather than the center of attention.
“I think when the time comes, I’ll pretty much say, ‘Thank you very much, and I’ll see ya.’”
What Comes Next for Michaels — and Amazon?
For now, Michaels’ future sits in Amazon’s hands. While he’s eager to return, the network must weigh his unparalleled experience against the recent fan criticism and the natural desire to cultivate a younger broadcast presence.
Still, Michaels remains a titan in the industry—and no matter what Amazon decides, his legacy is untouchable. Few voices have defined more eras, more championships, and more unforgettable moments.
Whether he returns to the TNF booth in 2025 or decides it’s finally time to say goodbye, Al Michaels has made one thing clear:
He’s not ready to walk away just yet.
