Al Michaels is not putting a timeline on the end of his broadcasting career. The longtime play-by-play voice of NFL on Prime Video says his future will be determined by one standard. He will continue only if he feels he can call games at a level that meets his own expectations.
Michaels, who will be on the call Saturday night as the Chicago Bears face the Green Bay Packers in the NFL Wild Card round, discussed his outlook during a recent appearance on Mad Dog Unleashed with Chris “Mad Dog” Russo on SiriusXM. The playoff matchup will mark Michaels’ final NFL broadcast of the season.
“I’ll go as long as I can or I want to,” Michaels said. “But I have to be able to know that I can do the game at the level that satisfies me.”
Michaels, 81, joined Amazon Prime’s NFL coverage for the 2022 season after a storied run calling games for several networks. His move to streaming reflected both his enduring presence in the broadcast world and the growing competition among platforms to attract high-profile sports talent.
Now in his fourth season calling games for Amazon Prime Video, Michaels made it clear he does not currently feel close to stepping away. He said the decision to continue will ultimately come down to self-awareness and performance, rather than outside opinions or milestones.
“If I feel not as what I have been or the way I perceive myself to have been, that’ll be time to step away,” Michaels said. “I don’t feel that right now, though.”
Michaels also spoke glowingly about his experience with Prime Video, describing the partnership as a seamless transition and one that has exceeded expectations on both a professional and audience level.
“I love what I do. I work with great people,” Michaels said. “The Amazon thing has worked out extremely well.”
Michaels has shared the booth with analyst Kirk Herbstreit, bringing a combination of decades-long experience and insight into modern NFL strategy. Their broadcasts balance a traditional play-by-play style with the platform’s digital-first approach. Michaels’ Thursday Night Football partner initially inked a five-year contract with Amazon in 2022, and is signed through next season. As for himself, Michaels is currently on a season-to-season agreement with Prime Video.
Michaels credited Amazon’s leadership and production team for creating an environment that allows him to focus solely on the broadcast. He said the support from the company has been a major factor in his desire to keep going.
“The Amazon folks, the Prime folks, have been fantastic,” Michaels said.
Since launching Thursday Night Football in 2022, Prime Video has consistently delivered strong viewership numbers. Michaels pointed to Amazon’s Christmas night broadcast, which drew more than 21 million viewers, as an example of the platform’s continued growth and reach.
“We did 21 million people on Christmas night,” he said. “Who knows what we do this week? It’s a big, big number.”
When asked about broadcasters who continued calling games late in their careers, Michaels cited two iconic Los Angeles voices: Vin Scully and Chick Hearn. Both worked well into their 80s. Michaels said their longevity is a reminder that age does not have to dictate ability.
“I loved listening to them up until the very end,” Michaels said. “As long as I can feel like I can be at the top of my game, I hope to go on.”
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