NFL fans rally around Al Michaels, 80, during Ravens-Steelers playoff game after season-long backlash
Fans wrapped their arms around Al Michaels as the vilification he received for a season continued during NFL Wild Card weekend.
On Saturday night, the 80-year-old called the Baltimore Ravens game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Amazon Prime with Kirk Herbstreit.
Fans regularly flooded social media with comments about his comments. Much of the response focused on the lack of enthusiasm and energy in his calls.
As the negativity poured into the comment sections, other fans complemented Michaels’ body of work throughout his storied career. However, they still alluded to his retirement while pointing out other factors working against his favor.
“Al Michaels is a legend. Great voice,” one user commented. ‘But it’s over. Letting him play football on any night is starting to look more and more like elder abuse.”
“I think Al Michaels is still a pretty good broadcaster and I like Herbstreit too, but they’re not great together,” another added. “Kirk is too subdued and even goofy to complement an older Al Michaels who can make the occasional phone call. Collinsworth is excitable, so they were a better duo.”
Fans rallied around Al Michaels as the backlash he’s faced all season continued Saturday
Michaels called the Steelers-Ravens Wild Card game with Kirk Hebrstreit on Amazon
“I love Al Michaels but it might be time to hang them up,” a third suggested.
“Al Michaels is hilarious. I can’t be bothered to show any excitement about this call,” chimed in a fourth user.
“I see people bashing Al Michaels as an announcer and saying he’s too old. Mom he’s doing great and he’s bringing us meme-worthy s*** too,” a fifth wrote.
Throughout his tenure at Amazon Prime Video, fans had accused Michaels of sounding bored and disinterested during the phone call.
After 15 years at NBC, the 80-year-old signed a deal with Amazon Prime to cover their Thursday Night Football games with Herbsreit.
In December, The Athletic reported that Amazon Prime expects to keep Michaels on board until his contract expires at the end of the season.
Andrew Marchand also noted that Michael is taking his new contract on a year-to-year basis.
Michaels has called eleven Super Bowls, countless NFL primetime games and iconic MLB and NHL moments during his storied career.
He is also best known for his ‘Do you believe in miracles?’ call during the waning moments of Team USA’s prodigious upset over the Soviet Union during the 1980 Olympics in Lake Placid, New York.