ESPN's Monday Night Football lead announcer Mike Tirico is reportedly leaving the network to join NBC.
NBC remained tight-lipped about the move, saying that the network doesn’t comment on people who are under contract with another outlet. Tirico is expected to be the lead play-by-play announcer for NBC’s Thursday Night Football package, according to Sports Business Daily. It is unknown if he will have any other roles at NBC. Sean McDonough, who recently renewed his deal with ESPN, is the leading candidate to replace Tirico on Monday Night Football.
ESPN also declined to comment.
Tirico has been with ESPN since 1991. He has been the lead play-by-play announcer for Monday Night Football since 2006. He also calls NBA, college basketball and football games and is a part of ESPN’s golf and tennis coverage. Tricio will continue to call NBA games through the playoffs since his current deal with ESPN ends this summer.
He could eventually replace Al Michaels, the play-by-play announcer for NBC’s Sunday Night Football. Michaels' contract with NBC expires in 2017.