Kirk Herbstreit and Al Michaels (Photo via Amazon Prime Video)
Plenty of NFL fans voiced their displeasure with Al Michaels’ performance in the broadcast booth during the San Francisco 49ers-Los Angeles Rams “Thursday Night Football” game, with some even calling for him to retire.

Though he’s unquestionably one of the greatest sports commentators ever, many fans have been disappointed with the 80-year-old in the booth this season. Many fans panned Al Michaels’ performance in the Washington Commanders-Green Bay Packers Week 2 game, Amazon Prime Video’s first broadcast of the 2025 season.

Well, the criticism against Michaels mounted during Thursday’s pivotal NFC West clash between the 49ers and Rams, who entered the game with identical 3-1 records.

In one instance, Michaels was confused when Mac Jones hit Demarcus Robinson for a big gain in the first quarter. Michaels incorrectly stated that the play was coming back because of a penalty when Josaiah Stewart of the Rams was called for roughing the passer.

After referee Bill Vinovich made the call, Michaels seemed confused about the 49ers moving up the field:

Fans were rather ruthless with their takes on Michaels last night:

“Al Michaels is absolutely awful. An epic Thursday Night Football game in which he didn’t seem to understand a single thing that was happening,” one fan said.

“It’s time for A.I. Michaels,” wrote another.

“Retirement time is looming for Al,” said a user.

“Might be time for him to call it retirement because yikes…,” a fan commented.

“Al Michaels seemed unwell tonight,” another said.

“Al Michaels in 2025 is Celtics Shaq,” a fan wrote.

Last year, Andrew Marchand of The Athletic reported that Michaels is taking it “year-by-year.” His initial three-year deal with Amazon Prime Video expired after last season, Marchand noted.

Fans Will Miss Al Michaels When He Retires

Al Michaels (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
Michaels may not be as energetic and sharp as he was some years ago, but fans who want him to retire should appreciate the icon while he’s still in the broadcast booth. When Michaels retires, football broadcasts will never feel the same.

As great as Joe Buck (ESPN), Kevin Burkhardt (Fox Sports), Mike Tirico (NBC) and Jim Nantz (CBS) are, their careers don’t span as long as that of Michaels. His career began in 1971, and he has called just about everything, including Super Bowls, World Series showdowns, the NBA Finals, the Olympics and the Kentucky Derby.

Retirement will arrive sooner rather than later, but fans should just enjoy the presence of Al Michaels in their living rooms while he’s still going.

Luka Doncic ‘destroys’ the Mavs on his return. Gets standing ovation and shows love to Mark Cuban

Luka Doncic hits 45 points in his first game in Dallas since being traded to the Los Angeles.

It’s rare for a home crowd to cheer the visiting team, but Luka Doncic’s return to Dallas was no ordinary night.

Just days before February’s trade deadline, the Mavericks shocked the NBA by sending their 26-year-old superstar to the Lakers—a move that outraged fans and sparked backlash toward GM Nico Harrison.

On Wednesday, Doncic played his first game back in Dallas since the trade. The arena was filled with fans in both his old Mavs and new Lakers jerseys, many chanting “Fire Nico” in protest.

Despite the emotion in the air, Doncic delivered a dominant performance, scoring a game-high 45 points to lead the Lakers to a 112-97 win. It was a powerful return for one of the league’s brightest stars—and a night Dallas won’t soon forget

The Mavericks pay tribute to Luka Dončić

While the Mavericks’ decision to trade Luka Doncic remains heavily criticized, they handled his return to Dallas with undeniable grace. The organization made sure his first game back as a Laker was met with respect and appreciation.

Every seat in the arena was draped with a T-shirt reading “Hvala za vse,” which translates from Slovenian to “thank you for everything.” It was a thoughtful nod to Doncic’s heritage and impact on the franchise.

Before tip-off, during the starting lineup announcements, the Mavericks played a tribute video showcasing some of Doncic’s most iconic moments in a Dallas jersey. The emotional gesture clearly resonated—moving Doncic to tears in front of the crowd that once called him their own.

Luka Doncic ‘DESTROYS’ his old team

Luka delivered a dazzling performance against his former team, putting up 45 points on 16-of-28 shooting, including 7-of-10 from beyond the arc. He also added 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals in a game that showed exactly why he’s one of the best in the league.

From the opening tip, Doncic was locked in. By halftime, Doncic had racked up 31 points on 11-of-16 shooting in just 19 minutes—marking the 10th time in his career he’s scored 30 or more in a single half.

Though his scoring slowed in the second half, he continued to lead effectively, securing both a Lakers win and an unforgettable showing for the fans in Dallas.