Al Michaels is currently in the booth for the Thursday night preseason showdown between the Colts and Bengals. This marks the beginning of his third scintillating season with Prime Video. But here’s the million-dollar question: Will 2024 be the swan song for the legendary broadcaster?
Al Michaels’ Thoughts on the Future
Right now, the iconic voice of millions sounds confident and energized. “Right now, I feel great,” Michaels shared with Stephen Battaglio of the L.A. Times. “I look forward to the season. I’ve trained myself to live in the present. I don’t want to start thinking too much about the future. . . . I think maybe we’ll get to a point down the line, end of the season or whatever and sit and discuss this thing. Can I go on? Do I want to go on? Do they want me to go on? All these things will happen in due course. I’m having a lot of fun.”
No Farewell Tour
Not one for pomp and circumstance, Michaels has stated he won’t be having a farewell tour. Last year, he made a commitment to work through 2024, but beyond that, it’s anyone’s guess. “Look, when I’m done, it’s the way John Madden was done,” quipped Michaels. “Two words and a contraction: ‘It’s time.’ I don’t need any parade or that nonsense.”
A Legacy Like No Other
Al Michaels deserves to bow out on his own terms. He’s the gold standard, the voice that echoes through our most cherished football memories. For countless fans, his rich baritone was the backdrop of Sunday nights, akin to a beloved cantina tune. Witnessing the NFL without him is like eating ceviche without lime—unimaginable and incomplete. Hopefully, Michaels will keep narrating the gridiron drama for many more seasons. In the end, this living legend has earned the right to step away whenever he deems it’s time.
Let’s cherish every game he calls, every anecdote he shares, and every touchdown he describes with the flair and finesse only he can muster. Al Michaels is a national treasure, and whether 2024 marks his final play-by-play or not, he’s left an indelible mark on the sport we all love.
