NFL announcer Al Michaels is hearing it from fans again after another on-air mix-up, and the latest mistake has only intensified the calls for him to retire.
During Thursday Night Football, Michaels was on the call for the Cleveland Browns’ win over the Pittsburgh Steelers when Browns defensive lineman Mason Graham went down with an injury. Michaels identified Graham as a Michigan State product, but Graham actually played at the University of Michigan. He was a national champion and unanimous All-American before being drafted by the Browns in 2025.
The reaction online was immediate, especially given the rivalry between Michigan and Michigan State. One fan wrote, '@KirkHerbstreit can't believe you let Al Michaels disrespect Mason Graham like that saying he went to Michigan State.'
A second fan wrote: 'Al Michaels owes Mason Graham an apology. He just said he went MSU.
He won a national championship with @UMichFootball. Can't make that mistake.
He literally added insult to his injury #TNF #NFL.'
Another added: 'Al Michaels needs to retire: just said Mason graham went to Michigan state. The disrespect is crazy!!!!''
It’s the second straight week Michaels has been criticized for getting a school wrong on air. The week before, while calling the Atlanta Falcons’ game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field, he was recapping Michael Penix Jr.’s college path and said the quarterback started at Indiana before having 'two great years at Oregon.'
That drew plenty of backlash as well, since Penix actually starred for the Washington Huskies, Oregon’s rival. One fan took to X and wrote: 'Al Michaels just committed the cardinal sin of football, saying Michael Penix had 'two great years at Oregon.' He corrected himself after my blood pressure had already spiked.'
Michaels, who has called NFL games since 1986 and has worked 11 Super Bowls, is 81 and remains in Amazon Prime Video’s Thursday Night Football booth with Kirk Herbstreit. Despite the recent flurry of mistakes, he has given no sign he’s ready to step away.
At the end of last season, Michaels addressed his future and said: 'First of all, I feel great.
'Everyone at Amazon has been fantastic and I love working with this group. 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.'
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