Amazon officially announced Wednesday that Al Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit would man their Thursday Night Football both starting next season.
Michaels joins the streaming service following a 15-year run on NBC’s Sunday Night Football and a Hall of Fame career that has spanned just about every major sporting event. Meanwhile, Herbstreit, who will also continue to work for ESPN, has been a mainstay of that network’s college football coverage for years while also pining for a chance to call NFL games.
Amazon officially announced the hirings of Al Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit today, while ESPN also announced a contract extension for Herbstreithttps://t.co/Dr1mMdVxLb
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 23, 2022
The streaming service won the rights to broadcast 15 regular-season NFL games for the next 11 years in a deal that is said to come in around $1 billion. Amazon pulled out all the stops to acquire Michaels and Herbstreit, paying both with eight-figure contracts that are said to rival some of the other shocking deals that have been handed out to NFL broadcasters in recent weeks. Michaels is said to be getting in the range of $12 million to $15 million per year while Herbie is likely closer to around $10 million.
“Over the last 36 seasons, I’ve been at the mic describing some of the most magical moments and games in NFL history and am looking forward to many more,” Michaels said in an announcement. “This is the new frontier in sports television and to be a part of the launch at this point in my career is both exciting and stimulating. The NFL is the king of unscripted television and I’m looking forward to joining Kirk to bring fans more dramatic episodes on Thursday nights this fall.”
While NFL fans knew this was going to be the case for a while now, the official announcement led to some reactions from the football world regarding the new booth and how much Amazon was willing to pay for it.
Al Michaels is officially a Prime member https://t.co/UWpq3fEEeE
— Tim Baysinger (@tim_bays) March 23, 2022
https://twitter.com/frankpallotta/status/1506701398657937411
Oh, so Kirk transferred huh 😏 https://t.co/WbvzPcXzzM
— Gee Scott Sr. 🎙️ (@GeeScottSr) March 23, 2022
On the same day ESPN signed Kirk Herbstreit to a contract extension, Amazon signs him to work its NFL Thursday night package with Al Michaels. Is the booth big enough for both egos?
— bob raissman (@nydnraiss) March 23, 2022
It's official.
Kirk Herbstreit will join Al Michaels in the broadcast booth for Thursday Night Football on Amazon Prime.
Big get for Amazon. 👀 pic.twitter.com/M5F79MVbVm
— 104-5 The Zone 📻 (@1045TheZone) March 23, 2022
[Deadline]
About Sean Keeley
Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Managing Editor for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.