With NFL broadcasts experiencing a game of musical chairs before the 2022 season started, some new TV partnerships and booth assignments will take some time for fans to get used to. Take Joe Buck and Troy Aikman calling games on ESPN for Monday Night Football as one example.
A completely fresh and new pairing for the 2022 season is Al Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit working Thursday Night Football on Amazon Prime. Michaels had previously been the long-time play-by-play for Sunday Night Football, while Herbstreit still works for ESPN as their lead color commentator for college football games.
Thursday night saw Michaels and Herbstreit make their respective debuts on Amazon together for a huge matchup between the Chiefs (-4.5) and Chargers:
Al Michaels. @KirkHerbstreit.
THIS IS REALLY HAPPENING.
🏈: @Chargers vs. @Chiefs#TNFonPrime | Watch NOW on @PrimeVideo pic.twitter.com/kyq9TBOlMQ
— NFL On Prime Video (@NFLonPrime) September 16, 2022
Phew, man. Now that I think about it seeing Michaels and Herbstreit in the booth for an NFL game together is indeed kind of weird. I’m sure it’ll take no time for Herbstreit to ingratiate himself as a full-time NFL analyst, but it’s just not something you’re used to at first watch.
NFL fans could've get over Kirk Herbstreit as the color commentator on TNF
Hearing Kirk Herbstreit on an NFL game is strange, like when your gym teacher had to sub in English class
— Terence Malangone (@SpikeMal) September 16, 2022
Kirk Herbstreit doing NFL feels weird. I’m sure he’ll be fine but it’s kind of like having Colonel Sanders feeding you hamburgers.
— Chris Castellani (@Castellani2014) September 16, 2022
Kirk Herbstreit covering NFL don’t seem right.
— Daniel Green (@TKN951) September 16, 2022
Hearing Al Michaels makes me think it’s Sunday night and hearing Kirk Herbstreit makes me think it’s Saturday night but it’s neither. It’s Thursday night. My brain is not built to process this.
— Brendan Farrell (@bfarrell1443) September 16, 2022
Hearing Kirk Herbstreit call an NFL game is like running into your pastor at an R-rated movie. It's confusing, but you kinda respect him for being there
— David Gardner (@byDavidGardner) September 16, 2022
Kirk Herbstreit calling the NFL isn't bad, it's just… unnatural
— Doug Greenberg (@DougGreenberg) September 16, 2022
Kirk Herbstreit is an outstanding commentator! But it does feel weird seeing him call NFL but at least he will still call college games!
— ✭ Shane ✭ (0-1) (@shane_2104) September 16, 2022
I totally forgot Kirk Herbstreit is color commentating Thursday Night Football on prime. That’s gonna take some getting used to
— Jack Bell (@jackbell25) September 16, 2022
