Al Michaels Faces Calls to Retire After Second Consecutive On-Air Blunder
The veteran announcer mixed up college affiliations for two NFL players in as many weeks, drawing criticism from fans.
Veteran NFL announcer Al Michaels, 81, is facing increased scrutiny and calls for retirement following two significant on-air errors in consecutive weeks.
During Amazon Prime Video's Thursday Night Football broadcast on October 2, Michaels mistakenly identified Cleveland Browns defensive lineman Mason Graham as a product of Michigan State University. Graham, however, played for the University of Michigan, where he was a national champion and an All-American before being drafted by the Browns in 2025.
The error drew immediate backlash from viewers, particularly those with ties to Michigan. One fan on X wrote, "Al Michaels owes Mason Graham an apology. He just said he went MSU. He won a national championship with @UMichFootball. Can't make that mistake. He literally added insult to his injury."
This incident follows a similar gaffe the previous week. While calling the Atlanta Falcons' game against the Green Bay Packers, Michaels incorrectly stated that Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. had transferred from Indiana to Oregon for his final two college seasons. Penix Jr. actually played for the University of Washington, a rival of Oregon.
Fans labeled this earlier mistake a "cardinal sin" in football broadcasting. Michaels, who has been announcing NFL games since 1986 and has called 11 Super Bowls, addressed his future at the end of the previous season, stating, "First of all, I feel great. Everyone at Amazon has been fantastic and I love working with this group. I've been looking at this year one year at a time and as long as I feel that I'm at the top of my game, I'd like to continue."
Despite his extensive experience and positive feelings about his current role with Amazon, the recent errors have amplified discussions about his continued presence in the broadcast booth.