We are fully entrenched into the 2023 NFL season now with Week 1 action behind us. As Week 2 of the season is here, so is the second season of Thursday Night Football presented by Amazon Prime. Once again, as the second season begins for the streaming services coverage, the well-known broadcasting duo of Al Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit looks to start another year together.
With years of historic games and calls under their belt, the Thursday night team has a rich history within the college and NFL world and has been the voice for many iconic moments within the sport. With so many years spent behind the microphone, one may wonder if legendary broadcaster Michaels has ever played football himself before.
Did Thursday Night Football Broadcaster Al Michaels Play Football?
Michaels was born in Brooklyn, NY, on Nov. 12, 1944. Although he was born in New York, Michaels and his family moved across the country to Los Angeles when he was 14 years old, and that is where his days of playing football began.
Michaels attended Alexander Hamilton High School in L.A. He was a football and baseball player throughout his time there. Michaels graduated in 1962, and that’s where his playing career would end before heading off to college.
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Michaels’ would go on to attend Arizona State University majoring in radio and television while minoring in journalism, deciding to focus on the off-the-field side of sports rather than being on it playing.
Michaels’ Broadcasting Career Has Been a Historic One
When it comes to iconic moments in sports, it wasn’t just football that Michaels’ was there for. Some of the biggest sports moments in history were narrated by Michaels’ including the “Miracle on Ice” where an unheralded group of college ice hockey players from the United States won the gold medal at the 1980 Olympic Winter Games.
Michaels’ throughout his career would be the voice of many MLB World Series games as well as Super Bowls, and countless Sunday night and Monday night football games throughout the years. Michaels is a five-time Sports Emmy Award winner, three-time NSMA National Sportscaster of The Year, and a Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism recipient.
There isn’t much that Michaels’ has seen or done throughout his career, and as Amazon Prime begins year two of their NFL coverage, it is safe to say they may not have a more distinguished or qualified man in the booth to lead the way.
