News recently broke that Sunday Night Football on NBC sideline reporter Michele Tafoya planned to step away from the role following the conclusion of Super Bowl LVI in Los Angeles.
It is a decision that had been in the making since before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, she confirmed to reporters in a conference call earlier this week. When COVID-19 struck the world though, her commitment to the on-air product and her colleagues kept her on the team for seemingly longer than expected.
“When COVID struck and we didn’t know what 2020 was going to be like, I just said, ‘Whatever we’ve got to do to get through this, I want to help,’” Tafoya explained.
Michele Tafoya and NBC chose not to make the decision public. Tafoya never wanted the story to be about her. She wanted it to be about the game on the field each week.
“This is hard for me. This is sad. These are my best friends in the world, this crew,” said Tafoya. “I know for a fact I’m going to miss them and certain little moments tremendously, but you know, this has been in my mind for long enough that I’m really ready.”
While her role has been to talk to players, coaches and personnel to obtain information or opinions about the primetime games on the sidelines, Tafoya recently appeared on The View, where she had the ability to express her own opinion on certain issues, including COVID-19 and the situation surrounding former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
Shortly after this appearance, Tafoya did not appear on the air for three weeks. That lead to much speculation that she was being punished for something she had said. NBC said in a statement they were pre-planned bye weeks for her.
Tafoya declined to speak about her future opportunities. She did confirm that her new role, whatever it may be, will give her the opportunity to articulate her personal opinions. That opportunity, though, will not be in the realm of sports television.
“If I wanted to stay in sports television, I wouldn’t be leaving,” Michele Tafoya said.
