You’re sitting on the couch, the wings are cooling, and the red sea of Arrowhead is blurring across your screen. But before the first kickoff flies, there’s that familiar moment of realization. You recognize the voice, but you can't quite place the face, or maybe you're just wondering why your favorite duo isn't calling the game this week. Honestly, the announcers for the Chiefs game can make or break the entire viewing experience. It’s the difference between hearing a clinical breakdown of a Cover 2 shell and someone like Tony Romo losing his mind because Patrick Mahomes just threw a left-handed touchdown pass while falling out of bounds.
Since the Kansas City Chiefs became the NFL's premier dynasty, everyone wants a piece of them. That means the "A-Team" usually gets the call.
The Prime Time Heavy Hitters
If the Chiefs are playing on Sunday night, you already know the drill. Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth are the voices of Sunday Night Football on NBC. Tirico is the ultimate pro—smooth, factual, and rarely rattled. Collinsworth? Well, he’s the guy people love to tweet about. Whether he’s sliding into the frame at the start of the broadcast or praising Mahomes' "special" ability for the tenth time in a quarter, he’s a staple of the Chiefs' biggest games.
But things get a bit more interesting when we talk about the afternoon slots.
CBS holds the rights to the AFC, which is the Chiefs' home turf. This is where Jim Nantz and Tony Romo live. For years, this duo has basically been the unofficial soundtrack of the Mahomes era. Romo’s "psychic" ability to predict plays before they happen has cooled off slightly as he’s settled into the role, but his genuine excitement for the game still mirrors how most of us feel watching it. When it’s a massive playoff rematch against the Bills or the Bengals, expect Nantz to deliver the big-picture narrative while Romo handles the "how did he do that?" analysis.
Then you have Kevin Burkhardt and Tom Brady over at FOX. Since Brady took over for Greg Olsen, the dynamic has shifted. Brady is methodical. He talks about the game like a guy who still has his cleats on, focusing on the minute details of a quarterback’s footwork or the way a safety disguised his blitz. If the Chiefs are the "Game of the Week" on FOX, this is the crew you’re getting.
The Local Legends: Mitch Holthus and the Radio Call
Some people—and I know a lot of you do this—actually mute the TV. They turn on the 106.5 The Wolf or the Chiefs Radio Network to hear Mitch Holthus.
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"Touchdown, KAN-SAS CITY!"
If you haven't heard Holthus scream that, you haven't truly experienced Chiefs football. He’s been the "Voice of the Chiefs" since 1994, making him the longest-tenured play-by-play announcer in the franchise's history. He’s joined by Danan Hughes, a former Chiefs wide receiver who provides the color commentary. There is a specific kind of magic in the local call that national broadcasts just can’t replicate. It’s biased, it’s loud, and it’s deeply rooted in the history of the Lamar Hunt family and the city itself.
Why the Broadcast Map Matters
Ever wonder why you’re stuck with a "B-team" crew sometimes? It’s basically all about the map. Every week, 506 Sports releases these color-coded maps that show which parts of the country get which games. If the Chiefs are playing a team with a losing record in the early 1:00 PM ET slot, CBS might send Ian Eagle and Charles Davis.
Ian Eagle is fantastic. He’s got a dry wit and a high-energy delivery that makes even a blowout feel like a championship game. Charles Davis is a walking encyclopedia of football knowledge. They are often considered the best "No. 2" crew in the business.
Then there’s the Amazon Prime factor. Thursday Night Football is Al Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit. Michaels is a legend, the guy who called the "Miracle on Ice," though some fans feel his energy has dipped a bit in recent years. Herbstreit, who spends his Saturdays on College GameDay, brings a college-style enthusiasm to the pro game that actually works surprisingly well with the Chiefs' high-octane offense.
The New Era of ManningCast
We can't talk about the announcers for the Chiefs game without mentioning the Manning brothers. If the game is on Monday Night Football, you have the standard crew—Joe Buck and Troy Aikman. They are the gold standard of professional, "big game" feel. Buck’s minimalism allows the crowd noise at Arrowhead to breathe, while Aikman isn't afraid to be blunt when a player messes up.
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But then there's the ESPN2 alternative. Peyton and Eli Manning.
Watching a Chiefs game with the Mannings feels like sitting in a film room with two geniuses who also happen to be siblings who roast each other constantly. They’ll have guests like Paul Rudd (a massive Chiefs fan) or former players, and half the time they aren't even talking about the live play. It’s chaotic. It’s weird. It’s great.
How to Find Today’s Crew
If you're trying to figure out exactly who is in the booth right now, there are a few reliable spots to check. The NFL’s official game preview usually lists the broadcast partners. However, the most "insider" way to do it is to follow the lead producers or the networks' PR accounts on X (formerly Twitter).
- CBS Sports PR and FOX Sports PR usually blast out their assignments by Tuesday or Wednesday of game week.
- 506 Sports is the holy grail for broadcast maps.
- The Chiefs' official website will list the local radio affiliates if you want to sync up Mitch Holthus.
Getting the sync right between the radio and the TV is the real trick. Because digital TV signals are delayed, the radio call usually happens a few seconds before the image hits your screen. There are apps like "TuneIn" or specific "Delay Radio" hardware that fans use to make sure the "Touchdown, Kansas City!" happens exactly when the ball crosses the plane.
The Art of the Color Commentator
The color commentator is the person who explains the why. For a team as complex as Andy Reid’s Chiefs, this is a tough job. You have to explain the "Kelce Factor"—how Travis Kelce finds open space in zones that don't seem to exist.
When you listen to Greg Olsen (now on the No. 2 team for FOX) or Tony Romo, they focus on the pre-snap motion. The Chiefs use more motion than almost anyone else. A good announcer will point out how Mahomes is using a hard count to see if the linebacker tips his hand.
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On the flip side, some announcers get criticized for being too "pro-Chiefs." It’s a common complaint from opposing fanbases. But the reality is, when a team wins as much as Kansas City has over the last few years, the narrative naturally follows the winners. The announcers are there to tell a story, and right now, the Chiefs are the main characters of the NFL.
Specific Crews to Watch For
- Jim Nantz & Tony Romo (CBS): The heavyweights for AFC showdowns.
- Joe Buck & Troy Aikman (ESPN/ABC): The Monday night specialists.
- Kevin Burkhardt & Tom Brady (FOX): The new look for cross-conference games.
- Ian Eagle & Charles Davis (CBS): The high-energy "Plan B" that often feels like Plan A.
- Mitch Holthus & Danan Hughes (Radio): For the true die-hards.
What Most People Get Wrong
A big misconception is that the NFL chooses the announcers. They don't. The networks (CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN/Amazon) pay billions for the rights to these games. They decide which crew goes where based on "protected" games and projected ratings. The NFL can influence the schedule, but once the game is on a specific network, that network’s internal hierarchy takes over.
If the Chiefs are the 4:25 PM ET "National Window" game, you are almost guaranteed the No. 1 crew. If they are shifted to a regional 1:00 PM ET slot because they are playing a struggling team, you might get a crew you aren't as familiar with.
Another thing: announcers aren't actually in the stadium as often as you’d think for the pre-game prep. They spend the week in "production meetings," often via Zoom or at the team's practice facility on Fridays, talking to Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes to get those little "nuggets" of info they drop during the broadcast. When an announcer says, "I talked to Patrick this morning and he told me...", that's where that comes from.
Actionable Steps for the Best Experience
To make sure you never miss a beat with the announcers for the Chiefs game, here is what you should do:
- Check the 506 Sports map every Wednesday. This tells you if you're actually getting the game in your area or if you need to head to a sports bar with NFL Sunday Ticket.
- Follow Mitch Holthus on social media. He often posts behind-the-scenes clips from the booth that give you a perspective the TV cameras miss.
- Download the Chiefs Mobile App. It has a direct link to the live radio stream, which is the best way to hear the local call if you’re out of the Kansas City market.
- Experiment with the ManningCast. If the game is a blowout, the Mannings are way more entertaining than a standard broadcast. If it’s a nail-biter, stick with Joe Buck and Troy Aikman for the drama.
Whether you love the national polish of Jim Nantz or the hometown fire of Mitch Holthus, the voices in the booth are the narrators of this historic run. Understanding who is calling the game—and why—just adds another layer to the Sunday ritual. Keep an eye on the weekly assignments, as the "A-team" follows the Chiefs almost everywhere they go these days.