Mike Tirico Reflects on Super Bowl Debut as NBC’s Lead Voice, While Micah Parsons Chimes In
Sunday’s Super Bowl broadcast marked a milestone for veteran broadcaster Mike Tirico, who called the big game for the first time in his career alongside longtime analyst Cris Collinsworth. For Tirico, it was a moment years in the making-and one he didn’t take lightly. But while the broadcast team brought their signature style to the NFL’s biggest stage, not everyone was sold.
Green Bay Packers edge rusher Micah Parsons, currently sidelined with a torn ACL, took to social media during the game to voice his displeasure with the commentary. Parsons didn’t mince words, making it clear he wasn’t impressed with the call.
That’s the nature of the Super Bowl spotlight-every play, every call, every word is magnified.
Tirico, who stepped into NBC’s lead NFL role in 2022 following Al Michaels’ move to Amazon Prime’s Thursday Night Football, has long been a familiar voice in American sports. Before joining NBC, he anchored Monday Night Football on ESPN and ABC from 2006 to 2015, often working alongside Jon Gruden. His transition to NBC has seen him take on a wide range of high-profile assignments, from anchoring Olympic coverage to calling NBA games.
In fact, Tirico added NBA play-by-play duties to his growing résumé in 2025, jumping into NBC’s basketball coverage in a limited capacity while still leading Sunday Night Football. One of his first assignments on the hardwood? Calling the season opener between the Houston Rockets and defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder-a clear sign of NBC’s trust in his versatility.
But Sunday was different. This was the Super Bowl.
In an interview leading up to the game, Tirico opened up about the magnitude of the moment and the preparation it demanded. He revealed that he reached out to Fox’s Kevin Burkhardt-who called Super Bowls LVII and LIX-for advice on how to handle the enormity of the assignment.
“We’ve been in touch over the last few years, texting and seeing each other at NFL meetings,” Tirico said. “I’m such a fan of Kevin and his story.
His first Super Bowl wasn’t that long ago, so it’s still fresh in his mind. I wanted to hear what he learned, what he experienced.”
It’s a rare moment of humility from one of the most seasoned voices in sports broadcasting. But Tirico made it clear he understood the assignment: document the game, inform and entertain, and then step aside.
“I just want to do the proper job of documenting the game, informing and entertaining the audience,” he said. “It’s the greatest single sporting day in America. People are gathered around their TVs-not to watch me and Cris-but to enjoy the game.”
That kind of perspective is what’s made Tirico a steady presence in sports media for nearly two decades. He knows when to lean in and when to let the game breathe. And with Cris Collinsworth, a fixture in NBC’s NFL coverage, beside him, the broadcast duo brought a blend of insight and familiarity to Super Bowl LX.
As for the game itself, it’s still unfolding. The Seattle Seahawks currently hold a 6-0 lead over the New England Patriots, and fans across the country are locked in-some for the football, some for the halftime show, and yes, some even for the broadcast.
Whether you were all-in on Tirico and Collinsworth or found yourself siding with Parsons, one thing’s certain: calling the Super Bowl is no small task. And for Mike Tirico, it was a moment he’ll never forget-criticism and all.