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Veteran play-by-play icon Al Michaels is back in the spotlight after a turbulent start to Amazon Prime Video’s 2025 Thursday Night Football schedule, sparking equal parts fascination and frustration among NFL fans. Calls for retirement grow louder During the Rams-49ers telecast, Michaels mixed up player names several times and referenced outdated statistics, prompting a wave of social-media criticism. Comment threads and sports-radio segments quickly filled with viewers urging the 80-year-old Hall of Famer to step aside, arguing that repeated miscues are beginning to tarnish an otherwise legendary résumé. On-air apology for roster mix-up Just days later, Michaels issued a rare live apology after confusing Rams receiver Puka Nacua with injured Patriots quarterback Mac Jones, acknowledging the error moments after analyst Kirk Herbstreit corrected him. The quick mea culpa did little to quiet detractors, but longtime colleagues lauded the broadcaster’s professionalism. The “jinx” heard ’round the league Controversy also flared when Michaels praised Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker for his season-long accuracy seconds before a 42-yard miss against the Vikings. Fans instantly labeled it an “all-time jinx,” reviving the age-old superstition that announcer compliments doom in-game performance. Vegetable-free diet resurfaces Adding to the intrigue is Michaels’ decades-old claim that he has “never eaten a vegetable.” The quirky admission resurfaced in an interview promoting this year’s TNF slate, reigniting debates about unconventional diets and longevity in high-stress careers. Michaels’ stance on stepping away Despite intensifying scrutiny, Michaels maintains he has no immediate plans to retire. In a recent conversation with The Sun, he insisted that preparation, passion and audience connection—not age—determine broadcast quality, adding that he’ll “know when it’s time” to hand off the mic. What’s next Prime Video’s next primetime matchup, Eagles vs. Cowboys, now doubles as a litmus test for Michaels’ future. Flawless execution could cool retirement rumors; another high-profile slip may amplify them. Either way, the chatter ensures viewers will be tuning in—and talking—whenever Al Michaels’ distinctive voice returns to the booth.