Veteran NFL announcer Al Michaels, 81, has drawn criticism from fans after committing several on-air mistakes during a recent Thursday Night Football broadcast. The errors included misstating the draft year of Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence and launching into an extended, unrelated story while the game was still in progress.
During the Week 9 matchup between the Ravens and Jaguars, Michaels incorrectly stated that Lawrence, the first overall pick, was drafted in 2001 rather than 2021. The gaffe quickly circulated on social media, with many users calling for Michaels to retire.
"He's so washed plz retire and enjoy the rest of your life legend," one user posted on X. Another commented, "Al should have retired 5 years ago. He's bored."
Further compounding the criticism, Michaels later in the game began recounting what he called a "bedtime story" about former Jaguars coach Tom Coughlin. The monologue reportedly lasted nearly four minutes and was interrupted only by an interception.
Michaels, who will turn 82 next week, has been a prominent voice in NFL broadcasting for decades. He famously called the "Miracle on Ice" in 1980 and has been broadcasting NFL games nationally since 1986. He joined NBC in 2006 and moved to Amazon Prime Video in 2022 for its coverage of Thursday Night Football.
Michaels has previously addressed his future, stating on The Dan Patrick Show that he would know when it's time to step away, or when his employers indicate it is time. "If they come to me and say, you know, it's time for us to move on... And if I feel it's time, I'll know it," he said. He has worked in sports television since 1971.