Mike Tirico was forced to unexpectedly leave the Kentucky Derby on Saturday due to a health issue, but the longtime NBC announcer is not experiencing any long-term effects from the incident.
Tirico was leading NBC’s pre-race coverage of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., when many viewers noticed that something sounded different about the 58-year-old’s voice. A short while later, Tirico was replaced by Ahmed Fareed.
Fareed relayed to viewers that Tirico was “feeling a little under the weather” and would not return. Tirico later revealed on social media that he had a “significant reaction to my nut allergy.”
Fortunately, Tirico sounded like his normal self again during a Monday morning appearance on “TODAY.” He said it took him several hours to begin feeling better on Saturday after receiving an EpiPen injection.
“I’ve had a nut allergy my whole life and I’m usually very, very careful. … I ate something that had a nut in it and had a nut (allergic reaction), causing your throat and your nose and all that stuff to kind of clog up and swell,” Tirico explained. “It affects your breathing a little bit. So, I wasn’t feeling well, couldn’t go on with the show, took an EpiPen shot. I got treated by EMTs, felt better as about 8, 9 o’clock came along, but it takes a while for it to get out of your system.”
"I ate something that had a nut in it and had a nut allergy, causing your throat and your nose all that stuff to kind of clog up and swell. It affects your breathing a little bit, so, wasn’t feeling well, couldn’t go on with the show" – Mike Tirico on 'Today' pic.twitter.com/YlLrWRAiNH
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 5, 2025
Tirico, one of the most well-known announcers in sports, has been with NBC since 2016. He has taken on a wide multitude of assignments for the network across all different sports, most notably as the lead play-by-play announcer for “Sunday Night Football.” He also leads coverage of major events such as The Open Championship, the Indianapolis 500, and both the Summer and the Winter Olympics. Tirico will also have a major role during the NBA’s impending return to NBC next season.
Tom Hammond had been NBC’s lead anchor for Triple Crown coverage prior to Tirico taking over in 2017. Tirico is expected to be back in his usual spot when NBC broadcasts the Preakness Stakes on May 17.
