Al Michaels is 81 years old as of September 2026. He was born on November 12, 1944, in Brooklyn, New York. Anyone searching how old is Al Michaels may be surprised that he remains active in national NFL broadcasting at 81.
The veteran broadcaster returned as Prime Video’s play-by-play announcer for the 2026 Thursday Night Football season. He continues working alongside analyst Kirk Herbstreit and sideline reporter Kaylee Hartung. His longevity makes his age especially remarkable to viewers who still hear him during major NFL games.
Direct answer: Al Michaels is 81 years old as of September 2026. He was born November 12, 1944, and will turn 82 on November 12, 2026. The longtime American sportscaster remains active as Prime Video’s Thursday Night Football play-by-play announcer during the 2026 NFL season.
Al Michaels at a Glance
| Key fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Alan Richard Michaels |
| Date of birth | November 12, 1944 |
| Age in September 2026 | 81 |
| 82nd birthday | November 12, 2026 |
| Birthplace | Brooklyn, New York |
| College | Arizona State University |
| Profession | Sports broadcaster and play-by-play announcer |
| Wife | Linda Anne Stamaton |
| Children | Steven and Jennifer |
| Current major role | Prime Video Thursday Night Football |
| Current broadcast partner | Kirk Herbstreit |
| Famous broadcast | 1980 Winter Olympics “Miracle on Ice” |
| Major honor | 2021 Ford C. Frick Award |
How Old Is Al Michaels in 2026?
Michaels is 81 and will celebrate his 82nd birthday on November 12, 2026. NBC Sports marked his 80th birthday on November 12, 2024. His documented birth date also appears in records from the National Sports Media Association and other biographical sources.
His age attracts attention because his broadcasting career remains active rather than retrospective. Prime Video confirmed his return for another NFL season in 2026. He has been the lead play-by-play voice of its Thursday package since 2022. That puts his career longevity into unusual perspective. He was already working in sports broadcasting before the first Super Bowl era had fully developed. Decades later, he remains behind the microphone during nationally televised professional football.
From Brooklyn to a Career Behind the Microphone
Alan Richard Michaels was born in Brooklyn and later moved with his family to Los Angeles. He developed an interest in sports and broadcasting while still young. That interest eventually led him to Arizona State University.
At ASU, he studied broadcasting and worked for the student newspaper and campus radio. He called university sporting events while developing the skills that would define his professional career. Arizona State lists him among its notable alumni and records his 1966 broadcasting degree.
His early professional career included work with the Hawaii Islanders and University of Hawaii sports. He later became a Cincinnati Reds broadcaster in 1971. A move to the San Francisco Giants followed before national television brought him to a much larger audience.
How His Broadcasting Career Became Legendary
The broadcaster eventually became closely associated with ABC Sports. His assignments covered baseball, football, basketball, hockey, and the Olympics. That range gave American viewers decades of memorable calls across several major sports. Mindspaper also profiles other long-running entertainment careers, including Jon Lovitz and his decades in comedy. Football became one of the strongest connections between his voice and American sports audiences. He worked on ABC’s Monday Night Football for roughly two decades. He later became the lead play-by-play voice for NBC’s Sunday Night Football.
His career then entered another phase with streaming television. Prime Video selected him for its exclusive Thursday Night Football broadcasts beginning in 2022. In 2026, he and Kirk Herbstreit returned for the platform’s fifth TNF season. That progression spans several distinct eras of American sports media. His career moved from local radio and regional baseball to network television and streaming. Few broadcasters have remained nationally visible across so many changes in viewing habits.
The “Miracle on Ice” Call That Defined a Generation
One moment remains inseparable from his name. Michael’s call was the United States hockey team’s famous victory over the Soviet Union during the 1980 Winter Olympics. His final-seconds call became one of American sports television’s most recognizable moments.
The game became known as the “Miracle on Ice.” His excited question about believing in miracles captured the emotion surrounding the unexpected American victory. The moment remains an important part of both Olympic and broadcasting history. The assignment also demonstrated his ability to cover sports beyond football and baseball. He could explain the action while recognizing the importance of the moment. That versatility helped establish his national reputation.
He Was Also Broadcasting During the 1989 World Series Earthquake
Another unforgettable assignment arrived during the 1989 World Series. Michaels was preparing to cover Game 3 between Oakland and San Francisco when the Loma Prieta earthquake struck. The earthquake disrupted the World Series and created a major breaking-news situation.
His familiarity with the Bay Area gave him valuable context during the broadcast. Sports coverage suddenly became live reporting about a natural disaster. It became another historic television event connected to his career. These two events show why his résumé reaches beyond ordinary play-by-play work. One involved an extraordinary Olympic upset, while another involved a disaster unfolding before a national audience. Both required a broadcaster to respond to events much larger than a scheduled game.
Why Is He Still Broadcasting at 81?
Age has not ended his role in prime-time football. Prime Video management confirmed that he would return for the 2026 season. The broadcaster had previously indicated that he planned to evaluate his career on a year-by-year basis.
His current position also reflects decades of experience with live sports television. He has worked through unexpected plays, technical changes, major news events, and evolving broadcast formats. That background remains useful in a job where events cannot be scripted. His presence also connects several generations of NFL viewers. Older fans may remember his ABC years, while others associate him with NBC. Younger audiences can now hear him through Prime Video’s NFL coverage.
Al Michaels’ Wife and Family
Michaels has been married to Linda Anne Stamaton since 1966. The couple knew each other before his career reached national prominence. They have two children, Steven and Jennifer. His marriage has therefore lasted through nearly his entire professional broadcasting career. Sports Business Journal lists Linda as his wife and identifies Steven and Jennifer as their children. The same source also reports that the couple has grandchildren.
Despite his public career, much of his family life has remained outside the weekly sports spotlight. His professional identity has centered far more on broadcasting than celebrity culture. That distinction helps explain why viewers may know his voice better than details about his personal life.
Awards and Recognition
A career stretching across several decades has produced major industry honors. Michaels entered the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 2013. The Television Academy recognizes him for his work as an American television sportscaster.
Baseball also honored his contributions despite football becoming central to his later career. He received the National Baseball Hall of Fame’s Ford C. Frick Award for broadcasting excellence in 2021. His baseball work included the Cincinnati Reds, San Francisco Giants, ABC broadcasts, and multiple World Series assignments. Those honors reflect the range of his career rather than one famous broadcast. He has covered championship events across major American professional sports. His career also stretches from traditional network broadcasting into the streaming era.
What Is Al Michaels Doing Now?
As of the 2026 NFL season, he remains part of Prime Video’s main Thursday Night Football broadcast team. Kirk Herbstreit works beside him as the game analyst. Kaylee Hartung handles sideline reporting for the broadcast.
Prime Video’s 2026 schedule began with Detroit visiting Buffalo on September 17. The service announced 17 NFL games across its 2026 schedule, including holiday and playoff coverage. Michaels remains the play-by-play voice viewers hear during the main broadcast. That makes his current status particularly unusual for someone born in 1944. His career is not merely remembered through archival clips and career retrospectives. American football audiences can still hear him calling live NFL action.
A Career That Connects Generations of Sports Fans
Someone who watched the 1980 Winter Olympics could recognize the same broadcaster on an NFL stream in 2026. That span explains why questions about his age remain popular. Few media careers provide such a direct connection between different generations of American sports television.
His professional timeline also mirrors major changes in sports media. He worked through radio, broadcast networks, cable-era competition, and modern streaming platforms. Yet the essential job of describing live action has remained familiar throughout his career. For readers interested in other long-running entertainment careers, Mindspaper also explores Christa Miller’s television career and family life and Prince Jackson’s life and career in 2026.
The Bottom Line
At 81, Michaels remains one of the most recognizable voices in American sports broadcasting. His career connects baseball, Olympic hockey, major NFL broadcasts, historic breaking news, and modern streaming television. His continued role on Prime Video makes that long career an active story rather than simply sports history.
He will turn 82 on November 12, 2026. Until then, viewers can still find him behind the microphone during Prime Video’s NFL coverage. That makes his longevity almost as notable as the famous sporting moments he has called.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Al Michaels?
He is 81 years old as of September 27, 2026. His birthday is November 12, 1944, so he will turn 82 in November. Multiple sports and biographical sources document the same birth date.
When is his birthday?
His birthday is November 12. He was born on that date in 1944 in Brooklyn, New York. NBC Sports marked his 80th birthday on November 12, 2024.
Is he still announcing football?
Yes, he remains an active NFL broadcaster in 2026. Prime Video confirmed his return as the play-by-play announcer for Thursday Night Football. Kirk Herbstreit continues alongside him as the game analyst.
How long has he been a broadcaster?
His professional sports broadcasting roots stretch back to the 1960s. His early work included the Hawaii Islanders before major-league baseball and national television opportunities followed. He has therefore spent more than five decades working in sports broadcasting.
What is his most famous sports call?
His best-known call came during the United States hockey victory over the Soviet Union at the 1980 Winter Olympics. The game became known as the “Miracle on Ice.” His call during the closing seconds became part of American sports broadcasting history.
Who is Al Michaels married to?
He is married to Linda Anne Stamaton. They married in 1966 and have two children, Steven and Jennifer. Their marriage predates most of his nationally recognized broadcasting career.
