Legendary NFL commentator Al Michaels is being urged to retire once again after sparking concern with his call of a dramatic overtime touchdown on Thursday night.
During the Seahawks’ enthralling victory over the Rams in Seattle, the 81-year-old appeared extremely unenthusiastic as Los Angeles wide receiver Puka Nacua darted through to the end zone for a 41-yard touchdown that got the visitors off to a flyer in overtime.
Though despite witnessing a terrific play that very well could have clinched it for the Rams, Michaels did not sound excited by it whatsoever.
‘Nacua will take it to the end zone,’ he said in a subdued tone. ‘Puka Nacua 41 yards.’
Just one week after his halfhearted call of a game-winning field goal led to claims that it is time for him to retire, Michaels is again being told to hang up his mic after more than half-a-century, with fans worried that his age is now taking its toll.
One user wrote on X: ‘Come on…he’s getting too old for this, he doesn’t get me excited to watch the games. He sounds like he would rather be somewhere else, he sounds tired. Time to bring in some fresh talent, give someone else a shot.
Legendary NFL commentator Al Michaels has sparked concern with another worrying call
‘It’s so sad hearing Al Michaels be so washed,’ said another.
‘Al Michaels is an absolute legend but it’s time to hang it up,’ claimed a third. ‘Guy is about 3 seconds behind every play and talks with the enthusiasm of a school librarian’.
A fourth argued: ‘Al Michaels is so washed. I know we say it every week but it’s like he’s watching the game on 3 second delay.’
While one concluded: ‘It is definitely time for Al to hang em up’.
Earlier in overtime, he also provided an amusing hot mic moment when he was heard saying to someone: ‘The Rams have done zero in the last 20 minutes.’
Michaels, who has worked as a play-by-play sportscaster for over 50 years with ABC, NBC and now Prime Video, has faced criticism over his perceived lack of enthusiasm frequently in recent years.
But the veteran sportscaster says ‘screaming and hollering’ is simply not his style.
‘Look, sometimes I’ll take some s***,’ Michaels said in 2023. ‘People say, “He didn’t get excited enough.” What do you want me to do? Scream, holler, yell the game? That ain’t me. That ain’t (Joe) Buck, that ain’t (Jim) Nantz.
‘I can’t pay attention to anti-social media. We live in a country with 330 million people. And if eight people rip you on social media, I’m going, “huh?” Now anybody sitting in a basement has a platform.
‘You can’t let things like that distress you. I’ve been doing this for so long. And I wouldn’t be here at this point still doing a major package if I was doing it the wrong way.’
