Is Al Michaels retired? No — as of the 2025 NFL season, the legendary broadcaster continues to call games for Amazon Prime Video's Thursday Night Football. At 80 years old, Michaels remains one of the most enduring voices in sports broadcasting history, a career that spans nearly six decades across network television.
If you are asking "is al michaels retired," the answer is a clear no.
The confusion about his status is understandable. After stepping away from NBC's Sunday Night Football in 2021, many viewers assumed he had quietly left the booth for good. Instead, Michaels pivoted to a new frontier: streaming. His move to Amazon marked one of the first times a marquee play-by-play announcer left traditional broadcast television for a digital platform.
This article answers the retirement question directly, explains where he currently works, traces his career timeline, compares his broadcasting homes, and clears up the rumors you may have seen online.
Where Al Michaels Currently Works
Al Michaels is the lead play-by-play announcer for Amazon Prime Video's Thursday Night Football coverage. He signed with Amazon in 2022, replacing the broadcast team that handled the package during its first streaming-only season. For anyone wondering "is al michaels retired," his weekly presence on Amazon proves otherwise.
Amazon reportedly pays Michaels a salary in the range of $15 million per year, according to reporting from The New York Post and other outlets covering the deal. That figure puts him among the highest-paid announcers in sports media history.
His current broadcast partner is Kirk Herbstreit, the former ESPN college football analyst who joined Amazon in the same transition. The pairing blends Michaels' NFL pedigree with Herbstreit's analytical energy.
Amazon's Thursday Night Football package includes 16 regular-season games plus one playoff game annually. Viewership has grown each season, with Amazon reporting double-digit percentage increases in average minute audience across the first two years. The recurring question "is al michaels retired" misses the fact that he remains one of the most visible figures in NFL broadcasting.
How to apply this: Open the Amazon Prime Video app on any Thursday during the NFL season and search "Thursday Night Football" to hear Michaels call the game live.
Al Michaels' Career Timeline and Milestones
Al Michaels began his national broadcasting career in 1977 when he joined ABC Sports. His breakthrough moment came at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, when he delivered one of the most famous calls in sports history during the U.S. hockey team's upset of the Soviet Union: "Do you believe in miracles? Yes!"
He spent nearly 30 years at ABC, becoming the voice of Monday Night Football in 1986. During that stretch, he called some of the most memorable NFL moments ever broadcast, including the 1989 earthquake-interrupted World Series. Those asking "is al michaels retired" often forget that his career has already outlasted entire eras of sports broadcasting.
In 2006, Michaels moved to NBC as part of a trade that sent Oswald the Lucky Rabbit rights from NBCUniversal to Disney. He anchored Sunday Night Football from its 2006 debut through the 2020 season, calling 15 consecutive seasons of primetime NFL action.
His current Amazon tenure began in 2022. This move made him the only broadcaster to serve as the lead play-by-play voice for all three major primetime NFL packages: Monday night, Sunday night, and Thursday night.
How to apply this: Search "Al Michaels miracle on ice call" on YouTube to hear the exact moment that cemented his legacy.
Why People Think Al Michaels Is Retired
Several factors fuel the persistent "is al michaels retired" search query. Understanding them helps separate fact from speculation.
First, his age naturally raises the question. Michaels turned 80 in November 2024. Most broadcasters step away well before that milestone, so viewers reasonably wonder how long he can continue.
Second, his reduced schedule compared to his NBC years creates confusion. At NBC, Michaels called 19 games per season including playoffs. At Amazon, he calls roughly 17 games with a shorter season window. Fewer appearances can read as semi-retirement. This is why the question "is al michaels retired" persists despite his active status.
Third, his departure from NBC in 2021 was framed by some media outlets as a forced exit rather than a voluntary transition. NBC replaced him with Mike Tirico, and the narrative of being "pushed out" blurred the line between leaving one job and leaving the profession.
Fourth, social media amplifies misinformation. Each offseason, viral posts claim Michaels has retired, often without sourcing. These rumors spread faster than corrections.
How to apply this: Check Michaels' verified X (Twitter) account or Amazon's official Thursday Night Football page before believing any retirement rumor.
Al Michaels' Broadcasting Style and Legacy
Michaels is known for a restrained, let-the-moment-breathe style. He rarely raises his voice, trusting the crowd noise and the moment to carry the emotional weight.
Former broadcast partner Cris Collinsworth described working with Michaels as "like playing point guard next to Michael Jordan," according to an interview with Sports Illustrated. The quote reflects the respect peers hold for his preparation and timing. For those still asking "is al michaels retired," the reverence current broadcasters show him suggests he remains very much active.
His longevity is unmatched in football broadcasting. According to Pro Football Reference's media database, Michaels has called more than 600 NFL games across his career, a total that spans six different decades.
Michaels has won numerous industry honors, including multiple Sports Emmy Awards for Outstanding Sports Personality — Play-by-Play. The National Sports Media Association inducted him into its Hall of Fame.
Despite his age, Michaels has publicly stated he has no retirement date in mind. In a 2024 interview with The Athletic, he said he would continue "as long as it's fun and as long as they want me." The question "is al michaels retired" has a simple answer whenever he is asked directly: not yet.
How to apply this: Watch one quarter of a Thursday Night Football broadcast and note how Michaels uses silence as effectively as words.
What the Future Holds for Al Michaels
Amazon's current deal for Thursday Night Football runs through the 2033 season. Whether Michaels remains in the booth for that entire span remains an open question. The recurring search "is al michaels retired" will likely continue as long as he remains in the booth without a stated end date.
Amazon has not publicly announced any succession plan. However, industry observers note that Ian Eagle and Noah Eagle, the father-son broadcasting duo, have called select Amazon games and represent potential future replacements.
Michaels' contract with Amazon was initially reported as a three-year deal covering 2022 through 2024. Both parties have remained quiet about any extension, though his continued presence in 2025 suggests an agreement was reached.
The physical demands of weekly travel matter. Calling Thursday night games requires less travel than a Sunday package, which may extend Michaels' runway compared to a traditional network schedule.
Sports media analyst Richard Deitsch wrote in The Athletic that Michaels' decision to continue "will likely come down to health and desire, not ability — he remains sharper than most announcers half his age." Until then, anyone asking "is al michaels retired" will keep getting the same answer: no.
How to apply this: Set a Google Alert for "Al Michaels contract" to stay updated on any official announcement about his future.
Comparison: Al Michaels' Broadcasting Homes
| Era | Network | Package | Years | Key Partner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABC | Monday Night Football | 1986-2005 | Frank Gifford, Dan Dierdorf | |
| NBC | Sunday Night Football | 2006-2020 | John Madden, Cris Collinsworth | |
| Amazon | Thursday Night Football | 2022-present | Kirk Herbstreit |
This table shows a clear progression: Michaels has moved from over-the-air network television to cable-adjacent primetime to pure streaming. Each transition tracked the broader shift in how Americans consume live sports. If you are still asking "is al michaels retired," this table shows he has simply changed addresses, not left the industry.
How to apply this: Compare your own viewing habits — if you watch Thursday games on Amazon, you are part of the streaming shift Michaels represents.
Frequently Asked Questions About is al michaels retired
Why did Al Michaels leave NBC?
Al Michaels left NBC after the 2020 season because the network wanted to transition to Mike Tirico as the long-term voice of Sunday Night Football. NBC offered Michaels a reduced role, but Amazon offered him a lead play-by-play position with comparable pay.
The question "is al michaels retired" gained traction during this transition because many viewers assumed leaving NBC meant leaving broadcasting entirely, which was never the plan.
How old is Al Michaels and how long can he keep broadcasting?
Al Michaels was born on November 12, 1944, making him 80 years old as of the 2025 season. Broadcasters like Vin Scully worked into their late 80s, while others retire in their 60s. Michaels has repeatedly said health will dictate his timeline.
For context on whether is al michaels retired matters, his current Amazon schedule involves roughly 17 games per year, far lighter than a full network slate.
Does Al Michaels still call playoff games?
Yes. Amazon's Thursday Night Football package includes one NFL playoff game each season, which Michaels calls with Kirk Herbstreit. However, he no longer calls the Super Bowl or conference championship games. Those remain on the rotating network schedule.
If you are wondering whether is al michaels retired from big-game broadcasting, the answer is partially — he still gets postseason assignments but not the season's biggest stage.
What happened to Al Michaels' partner Cris Collinsworth?
Cris Collinsworth remained at NBC after Michaels departed. Collinsworth now partners with Mike Tirico on Sunday Night Football. The two have not worked together since the 2020 season. Some fans searching "is al michaels retired" actually want to know if the Michaels-Collinsworth pairing is finished, and it is — that specific booth no longer exists on any network.
Has Al Michaels addressed retirement publicly?
Yes, multiple times. In interviews with The Athletic and USA Today, Michaels has said he will retire when he stops enjoying the work or when networks stop calling. He has not announced a target date. People asking is al michaels retired often miss these statements because they receive less coverage than the rumor mill suggesting his exit is imminent.
Conclusion
The answer to "is al michaels retired" is definitively no — he remains active with Amazon Prime Video as of 2025.
- Al Michaels calls Thursday Night Football for Amazon, a role he has held since 2022
- He left NBC in 2021 but never retired from broadcasting
- His career spans ABC, NBC, and Amazon across nearly six decades
- At 80 years old, he continues to call NFL games weekly during the season
- No official retirement announcement exists, and he has stated he plans to continue as long as he enjoys the work
Next step: Watch the next Amazon Thursday Night Football broadcast and hear for yourself why Al Michaels remains one of the most trusted voices in sports.
