Al Michaels has been a leading NFL play-by-play announcer for more than four decades. He began calling *Monday Night Football* on ABC Sports in 1986 and is also remembered for his call of the “Miracle on Ice.” But as Michaels continues his broadcasting career, some fans have questioned whether it is time for him to step away from the booth.
Journalist and Seahawks supporter Brian Nemhauser has suggested Marshawn Lynch as a possible replacement.
“This is going to be a quick segue, but like, give me Marshawn Lynch,” Nemhauser said on *Hawk Blogger*. “Like, make him the Sunday Night Football, like Thursday, whatever. Can we move away from the zombie Al Michaels? He literally does not know what’s happening.”
Nemhauser pointed to a key play in a Seahawks game as an example of what he sees as a problem with Michaels’ recent calls. He recalled the Thursday night matchup in which Seattle’s Rashid Shaheed returned a punt for a touchdown.
“Do you all remember the Thursday night game last year where Rashid Shaheed returns the punt for a touchdown? And he’s like, ‘Oh, and he scores,’” Nemhauser said. “That’s like, you blew one of the biggest calls! The Seahawks had one of the biggest, most momentous comebacks in the season that helped lead to a Super Bowl. And if you watch that game, listen to that game, you’d think it was like any other game that you’d seen.”
The play came during Seattle’s *Thursday Night Football* game against the Los Angeles Rams on December 18, 2025. Shaheed’s punt-return touchdown helped change the momentum and set up a dramatic 38–37 Seahawks overtime victory. Michaels was discussing something else as Shaheed caught the ball and began running. He recognized the score late and described it as coming “out of nowhere.”
Lynch has some broadcasting experience, though not as a traditional NFL play-by-play announcer. In 2023, he joined ESPN’s crew for the Slamball playoffs, where his animated commentary attracted attention. During a game between Lava and MOB, he compared a player being hit to a character losing coins in the video game *Sonic*.
“If this was Sonic, all his coins would’ve been knocked out right now,” Lynch said. “You would’ve been hearing them things come out … Sit him on his back pockets!”
His entertaining style is distinct from the measured delivery associated with veteran broadcasters such as Michaels. Lynch’s language can also be colorful. When he appeared on *ManningCast* this year, Peyton and Eli Manning cautioned him about profanity, recalling that his language during his first-season appearance had resulted in a fine for the show. Lynch responded by jokingly offering a string of censored expletives before getting started.
Michaels has faced criticism beyond the delivery of individual calls. Viewers have also pointed to mistakes, including missed plays and errors involving player names and backgrounds. This season, he confused Atlanta players Bijan Robinson and Brian Robinson Jr. He also misstated the college affiliations of Michael Penix Jr. of Washington and Mason Graham of Michigan, referring to Oregon and Michigan State instead.
After Michaels mistakenly called a fumble during a New England–Chicago game, one fan wrote on X, “Someone please tell Al Michaels that it’s time.” Another posted, “he’s so washed plz retire …and enjoy the rest of your life legend.”
Michaels currently works on a year-to-year basis with Amazon Prime Video for *Thursday Night Football*. His initial contract ended after the 2024 season, but he has continued in the broadcast booth. He has said he would accept the network’s decision if it chose to move on.
“If they come to me and say, you know, it’s time for us to move on … You guys have been fantastic. You’ve been great. 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,” Michaels said on *The Dan Patrick Show* in October. “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.’”
Whether Prime Video will make a change remains to be seen. Lynch is one name Nemhauser has floated, while Michaels has made clear that he is prepared to accept the moment when either he or the network decides his broadcasting run should end.
