Al Michaels has been one of the most familiar voices in American sports for more than 40 years. But after Thursday night’s Patriots-Bears game on Prime Video, his name trended for a different reason. Viewers flagged a series of on-air mistakes, including a fumble call on a play where the ball never came loose, and calls for the 81-year-old to retire grew louder. If you’re wondering what happened to Al Michaels, here is what he said on the broadcast, how his contract works and what could come next.
What happened to Al Michaels
Michaels called the Oct. 22, 2026, “Thursday Night Football” game at Soldier Field alongside analyst Kirk Herbstreit. The Bears won 30-24, NFL.com reported, sealed by a career-long 58-yard field goal from Cairo Santos.
The moment that got the most attention came in the first quarter. According to The Mirror US, Patriots running back Corey Kiner took a handoff from Drake Maye and was hit by defensive tackle Kentavius Street. As players piled around him, Michaels said, “And the ball comes out. The ball comes out this time from Corey Kiner.” Kiner still had the ball. There was no fumble.
Sporting News listed several other slips during the broadcast:
- He said Thursday marked 10 years since the Cubs won the World Series in Cleveland, when it was the anniversary of their National League pennant.
- He referred to Maye and Caleb Williams as part of a 2014 draft class instead of 2024.
- He missed a helmet to the knee of Bears running back D’Andre Swift, who briefly left the game.
- His call of Rhamondre Stevenson’s 48-yard touchdown run as time expired in the first half struck many viewers as flat for one of the wildest plays of the season.
Social media reaction was harsh. “Did Al Michaels just hallucinate a fumble?” one viewer wrote, in a post cited by both outlets. Herbstreit also drew some criticism from fans for the overall energy of the broadcast.
Timeline
- 1971: Michaels begins working in sports television, The Mirror noted.
- 1980: He calls the U.S. Olympic hockey team’s win over the Soviet Union, the “Miracle on Ice,” often described as the most famous call in sports broadcasting.
- 1986–2005: He is the play-by-play voice of ABC’s “Monday Night Football.”
- 2006: He moves to NBC’s “Sunday Night Football.”
- 2022: He becomes the lead voice of Amazon’s “Thursday Night Football” on a three-year deal, Sports Business Journal reported.
- 2025: He returns on a one-year deal.
- January 2026: Prime Video confirms he will return for the 2026 season. “I’ve been looking at this year one year at a time and as long as I feel I’m at the top of my game, I’d like to continue,” Michaels told SBJ.
- Oct. 14, 2026: On “The Dan Patrick Show,” he says he will be fine if Amazon decides to move on.
- Oct. 22, 2026: The Patriots-Bears broadcast leads to a new wave of criticism.
Why it matters
Michaels is not just any announcer. He called prime-time NFL games for four decades and remains the lead voice of a package Amazon pays heavily to stream. When a broadcaster of his stature makes visible mistakes, the conversation quickly turns to whether it is time to step aside.
Criticism of his work is not new. Sporting News noted that Michaels has become more subdued in recent years, and The Mirror said fans have increasingly mocked him online for getting names wrong or sounding less energetic than other broadcasters. Thursday’s game added several clear, easy-to-share examples, which is why his name trended overnight.
There is also a business angle. Michaels has been working year to year. After his original three-year deal, Prime Video extended the arrangement on a one-year basis twice, Pro Football Talk reported. That makes every season a decision point for both sides.
Michaels has been candid about it. “I’ve done the NFL for 41 years, which is half my life. Love it. But you know what? At a certain time, it’s time,” he told Dan Patrick. “And if they feel it’s time, great. And if I feel it’s time, I’ll know it. And I’ll say, ‘You know what? Thanks for the memories.'”
What’s next
Neither Michaels nor Amazon has announced that 2026 will be his final season, and he is expected to keep calling “Thursday Night Football” for the rest of this season.
The bigger question is succession. Prime Video has its sights set on CBS’s Ian Eagle as an eventual replacement, The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand said on a podcast, according to Awful Announcing. But Marchand said CBS wants to keep Eagle, who has called NFL games for the network since 1998. Other well-known play-by-play voices are under contract elsewhere, which could make the move harder than it looks. Herbstreit’s three-year Prime Video contract also expires after this season, Awful Announcing reported, so Amazon could face decisions about both seats in the booth.
For now, the answer will come from the two sides Michaels himself named: either Amazon tells him it is time, or he decides on his own.
FAQ
Did Al Michaels retire?
No. He is still calling “Thursday Night Football” on Prime Video in 2026 and has not announced his retirement.
What did Al Michaels get wrong in the Bears-Patriots game?
He called a fumble by Patriots running back Corey Kiner that did not happen, mixed up a Cubs anniversary and referred to the wrong draft year for Maye and Williams.
How old is Al Michaels?
He is 81 and approaching his 82nd birthday.
Who could replace Al Michaels on Thursday Night Football?
Reports say Amazon would like CBS’s Ian Eagle, but CBS wants to keep him and nothing has been announced.
Who won the Patriots vs. Bears game?
The Bears won 30-24 at Soldier Field to improve to 5-2.