Amazon Prime play-by-play announcer Al Michaels found himself in hot water after a comment he made about Tua Tagovailoa’s concussion during Thursday night’s streamed broadcast.
Quarterback Tagovailoa suffered the third known concussion of his NFL career when he slammed to the turf during the third quarter of the Miami Dolphins’ loss to the Buffalo Bills Thursday.
Tagovailoa appeared to go straight into the fencing response after colliding with Bills safety Damar Hamlin, who himself suffered a cardiac arrest on the field in January 2023.
He met Hamlin in the open field and led with his head instead of sliding. The signal caller went down after the collision, slamming his head on the Hard Rock turf.
Michaels, who was calling Prime’s ‘Thursday Night Football’, responded to sideline reporter Kaylee Hartung’s report that Tagovailoa would not be returning to the game due to concussion by saying: ‘A little irony there, he got hit by Damar Hamlin. You know that history.’
Al Michaels (right) was on the call alongside Kirk Herbstreit for Thursday’s game in Miami
Tua Tagovailoa (left) suffered a concussion after a collision with Damar Hamlin (right)
The comment drew the ire of NFL fans on social media as many criticized the 79-year-old announcer for his ‘unnecessary’ comment.
‘Except Damar is almost a bystander here, that’s barely a tackle,’ one user said, responding to a clip of the broadcast on X, formerly known as Twitter.
‘Tua lowered his head and shoulders instead of sliding for some unknown reason. So that felt truly unneeded from Al on many fronts.’
‘I felt the Michael’s comment unnecessary,’ another echoed.
‘I think that’s coincidence, not irony,’ a third wrote, while another chimed in adding, ‘It’s not ironic. It’s merely coincidental.’
Others claimed the insensitive call was a suggestion that Michaels, who turns 80 in November, should retire from sportscasting.
NFL fans on social media slammed Michaels for his comment on the scary incident
‘Al Michaels gotta retire after this year man… He just does not have the juice anymore,’ on social media user posted.
Another added: ‘Al Michaels; you respectfully gotta call it quits. You will be remembered for making some of the most iconic calls but your time is up.’
‘Al trying to get fired already so he don’t have to call another Thursday night football game,’ one fan suggested with another agreeing, saying: ‘Al really mailing it in…’
Earlier in the game, Michaels found himself under fire again as fans took issue with his ‘low-energy’ call for the Bills’ exciting early touchdown.
Michaels has long since been the voice of football in America, has been with NBC since 2006, and has fronted Amazon’s coverage since its inception in 2022.
Michaels is back for another season fronting Amazon’s coverage of the NFL, but it comes just months after a significant blow was dealt to him by NBC.
The Dolphins quarterback suffered a concussion following a tackle by Hamlin
Tagovailoa was able to leave the field under his own steam, before returning to the locker room
Last season, he didn’t call any of the broadcaster’s four NFL playoff games, ending a 17-season streak – much to Michaels’ surprise.
He had been a part of the network’s postseason football coverage every year since joining in 2006, but was left out of the lineup last season.
NBC’s top commentating pair of Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth, who handle the network’s ‘Sunday Night Football’ duties every week, called three, while Noah Eagle and Todd Blackledge handled the other.
Michaels spoke ahead of the season about the games he has been given for Thursday nights this season, insisting he can provide a ‘great storyline for every one’.
