Mike Tirico's path to Thursday Night Football faced NFL pushback

In August 2016, NBC Sports hired Mike Tirico to assume the lead role for Thursday Night Football, which was shared with CBS. However, the NFL intervened, stating it preferred networks utilize their top teams for the broadcast. As a result, Tirico's plans shifted, allowing him to focus on other high-profile assignments like Notre Dame football. He eventually received approval to call some Thursday night games during that season. Over the past decade, he has made significant strides at NBC, culminating in his position as the voice of Sunday Night Football in 2022.

• 6:00 PMYahoo Sports — 10 years ago, NBC hired Mike Tirico to call ‘Thursday Night Football.’ The NFL said no.