One of ESPN’s longest tenured personalities is reportedly departing the network, with Mike Tirico headed to NBC.
According to John Ourand of Sports Business Daily, Tirico, whose ESPN deal ends this summer, will join up with NBC and become the voice of their new “Thursday Night Football” package.
At first glance, it seems like a reduced role for Tirico, who would be leaving behind “Monday Night Football” as well as NBA and college basketball coverage to make the move. Al Michaels is NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” voice, but his contract expires in 2017 and he’s 71 years old, so there may be some succession planning in play here. You can also expect Tirico to be a part of NBC’s PGA Tour coverage.
Tirico has been with the Worldwide Leader since 1991 and has done a little bit of everything for the network, so this will be an enormous loss to ESPN. Sean McDonough is reportedly a leading candidate to replace him on “Monday Night Football.”
Perhaps now that Tirico is moving from basic cable to network television, Kim Kardashian will learn who he is.
