NBC Sports may have a Leno-Conan situation with Al Michaels and Mike Tirico

New York Post

The 2021 NFL season is the last season on the 76-year-old Michaels' contract, culminating in next year's Super Bowl in his hometown of Los Angeles. The problem is Michaels has shown no indication that he's ready to step down from announcing Sunday Night Football. The New York Post's Andrew Marchand reports that the announcement Monday that QB Drew Brees is joining NBC Sports sets up a new booth featuring Tirico and Brees -- a booth that is expected to replace Michaels and Cris Collinsworth. "The whole situation has a Leno-Conan late night vibe," says Marchand, adding: "NBC’s plan is understandable from a strategic standpoint. With new 11-year NFL TV deals on the horizon, they don’t want to be caught on the announcer carousel, like ESPN’s Monday Night Football. Tirico is more than ready to go, but Michaels is still in his way. Meanwhile, the 62-year-old Collinsworth now has Brees lurking over his shoulder."