You’re sitting on the couch, the pizza is lukewarm, and you’ve finally found the remote. You flip to Amazon Prime Video, and there they are. The voices. For many fans, the announcers for Thursday night football are just as much a part of the weekly ritual as the wings or the fantasy football stress. It’s a specific vibe. Unlike the frantic energy of Sunday afternoon or the prestige of Monday night, Thursday feels like the start of a long weekend. But who exactly is in your ear during those Prime Video broadcasts?
It’s Al Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit.
That’s the short answer. But the long answer is way more interesting because of how we got here and how the chemistry actually works in a booth that honestly shouldn't work on paper. You have a legendary play-by-play man who has seen everything from the "Miracle on Ice" to decades of Sunday Night Football, paired with the face of college football. It was a massive gamble by Amazon when they took over the exclusive rights. They didn't want a "streaming-lite" feel. They wanted the heaviest hitters they could buy.
Why Al Michaels Is Still the Standard
Al Michaels is a legend. Period.
He’s 81 years old as of late 2024, and while some internet critics love to nitpick his energy levels during blowouts, the man is still a master of the craft. Michaels has this specific way of weaving betting lines into the broadcast without actually saying "go place a parlay." He calls it "the gamblers' interest." It’s subtle. It’s old school.
When Amazon snagged him from NBC, it was a statement of intent. They weren't just showing football; they were claiming legitimacy. Michaels brings a "big game" feel that you simply can't manufacture. If you hear his voice, you know the game matters. Or, at the very least, you know the production value is top-tier.
Some people complain. They say he sounds bored when a game is 24-3 in the fourth quarter. Honestly? I get it. If the game is bad, Al is going to let you know it’s bad through his tone. He’s not a cheerleader. He’s a narrator. That’s a distinction a lot of younger fans might not be used to in an era of constant hype.
Kirk Herbstreit and the Impossible Schedule
Then there’s Kirk Herbstreit.
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The man is a machine. Seriously, look at his travel schedule during the fall. He does College GameDay on Saturday mornings, calls a massive ABC/ESPN college game on Saturday night, and yet, he’s there every Thursday for the NFL.
When it was first announced that Herbstreit would be among the announcers for Thursday night football, people were skeptical. Could a college guy handle the pros? The NFL is a different beast. The schemes are more complex, the players are icons, and the pace is more calculated.
Herbstreit leaned into his strengths. He’s a film junkie. He talks about "the shell" of the defense and "the climb" of the linebacker in a way that’s technical but accessible. He doesn't try to be Tony Romo—he’s not out here predicting every single play before it happens. Instead, he explains why a play failed. He focuses on the mechanics.
The chemistry between Al and Kirk is... interesting. It’s like a veteran grandfather and his very successful, slightly caffeinated son. They don't always step on each other's toes, but there’s a dry wit there. Michaels will make a reference to a movie from 1954, and Herbstreit will just kind of chuckle and keep it moving. It works because it’s not forced.
The Rest of the Crew: Kaylee Hartung and the "Big" Production
You can't talk about the broadcast without mentioning Kaylee Hartung. As the sideline reporter, she has one of the hardest jobs in the building. Thursday night games are notoriously short weeks for players. Coaches are cranky. Players are sore.
Hartung is excellent at getting actual information out of these guys during the halftime sprint to the locker room. She doesn't ask "how does it feel to be winning?" She asks about the specific adjustment the left tackle is making to stop a certain pass rush. That’s the "Prime" difference—they lean into the "X’s and O’s" quite a bit.
The Massive Studio Presence
Amazon didn't stop at the booth. They built a literal traveling circus. The pregame, halftime, and postgame show is a star-studded affair:
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- Charissa Thompson: The glue holding it together.
- Tony Gonzalez: The Hall of Fame tight end perspective.
- Ryan Fitzpatrick: "Fitzmagic" brings the chaos and the fun shirts.
- Richard Sherman: Pure, unadulterated honesty (and occasionally some beef with players).
- Andrew Whitworth: The "Big Whit" perspective on the trenches.
This group is chaotic in the best way. They feel like a group of guys at a bar who just happen to be incredibly good at football.
The Controversy of "The Stream"
Let's be real: the biggest hurdle for these announcers isn't their talent—it's the platform.
For the first year or two, the conversation wasn't about what Al Michaels said; it was about whether the feed was buffering. Because announcers for Thursday night football are exclusive to Prime Video (except in the local markets of the playing teams), there’s a barrier to entry.
Older fans struggled. "What channel is the game on?" became a weekly meme.
But as of 2024 and 2025, that’s mostly settled. The tech has caught up. Amazon introduced features like "Rapid Recap" and "X-Ray," which allows you to see player stats in real-time. It’s a tech-heavy broadcast. Sometimes it feels a bit like Madden, but for the most part, it’s the future of how we watch sports.
What People Get Wrong About the Thursday Booth
A common misconception is that the announcers hate the Thursday games because the football is "bad."
Look, Thursday games can be sloppy. Short weeks mean less practice time. Less practice time means more turnovers and weird penalties. But the announcers aren't there to apologize for the product.
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Michaels has actually been quite vocal about this. He’s a purist. He wants good football. When he’s critical of a game, it’s not because he’s "old and grumpy"—it’s because he’s calling it like it is. If a game is a "stinker" (his word), he’ll say it. That’s rare in a world where most broadcasters are terrified of upsetting the league office.
The Evolution of the Thursday Night Voice
Before Amazon, we had a rotating door of crews. We had the Fox era with Joe Buck and Troy Aikman. We had the Mike Tirico years. We even had the weird "tri-cast" years where CBS and NBC split the package.
It was confusing.
The current stability is actually a win for the fans. You know what you’re getting. You’re getting Al’s dry humor and Kirk’s tactical breakdowns. You're getting Sherman's loud opinions.
Actionable Insights for the Best Viewing Experience
If you're tuning in this week, don't just let the audio wash over you. There are actually ways to customize how you hear these announcers for Thursday night football.
- Check the Alternate Feeds: Amazon often runs "Prime Vision with Next Gen Stats." This is a separate broadcast where the announcers focus almost entirely on data, jersey tracking, and deep-level strategy. It’s great if you’re a fantasy football nerd.
- The "Dude Perfect" or Spanish Feeds: If Al Michaels isn't your speed, there are often alternate audio tracks. Sometimes they feature influencers or specialized commentators.
- Use the X-Ray Feature: If Herbstreit mentions a player you don't know (which happens a lot with backup offensive linemen on short weeks), flip up on your remote. The stats and bios pop up instantly.
- Mind the Delay: Because it’s a stream, your phone will likely buzz with a "Touchdown!" notification about 30 seconds before you see it on screen. Turn off your notifications. Seriously. It ruins the experience.
The landscape of NFL broadcasting is changing. With Netflix getting Christmas games and Peacock getting playoff games, the "traditional" TV channel is dying. But as long as guys like Al Michaels are behind the mic, the soul of the game stays intact. It’s a weird mix of 1970s broadcasting gravitas and 2026 streaming technology.
It’s not perfect, but it’s ours. Thursday night used to be the "extra" game. Now, thanks to a massive budget and a Hall of Fame booth, it’s a destination. Turn the volume up, ignore the buffering (if there is any), and listen to the legends. They won't be in the booth forever.