Home / Sports / Tirico's Bold Move: Super Bowl Call Caps Career Shift
Tirico's Bold Move: Super Bowl Call Caps Career Shift
2 Feb
Summary
- Mike Tirico's career transition to NBC is now fully validated.
- His 2016 move from ESPN to NBC was a strategic career gamble.
- Tirico's departure indirectly fueled massive analyst contract values.
Mike Tirico's career has reached a significant milestone as he prepares to call the Super Bowl, marking the ultimate validation of his 2016 career shift to NBC. This move, from a prime position at ESPN to a potentially deferred role at NBC, was a bold gamble that has since paid off handsomely.
His transition to NBC was strategically planned as a successor to broadcasting legends Bob Costas and Al Michaels. Over the past decade, Tirico has helmed major events like the U.S. Open and the Kentucky Derby, but his current role encompassing the Super Bowl and the Winter Olympics highlights his ubiquitous presence.
Tirico's departure from ESPN, where he had a quarter-century tenure, has had unforeseen consequences for the sports media industry. The resulting disarray at ESPN, particularly in its "Monday Night Football" booth, is seen as a contributing factor to the escalating salaries for NFL game analysts.
This ripple effect includes figures like Tony Romo's $180 million deal and Tom Brady's staggering $375 million contract. ESPN's perceived lack of urgency in retaining Tirico, despite his ambition for calling major championships, allowed NBC to secure him as their heir apparent.
His journey illustrates a strategic realignment in sports broadcasting, with NBC securing a versatile talent to anchor its biggest events. Tirico's current schedule, calling the Super Bowl and then heading to host the Winter Olympics, underscores the success of his ambitious career trajectory.
