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Al Michaels to miss 'Sunday Night Football' due to 'COVID-19 safety protocol'

Mike Tirico will replace Michaels
Frick Award Football
Posted at 5:14 PM, Dec 18, 2020
and last updated 2020-12-18 17:14:38-05

Broadcaster Al Michaels will not be calling Sunday's game against the Cleveland Browns and New York Giants and will be replaced by Mike Tirico due to "COVID-19 safety protocols."

According to a press release, NBCUniversal said they pulled Michaels from working the game because he wasn't cleared to work "in accordance with NBCUniversal COVID-19 safety protocols."

In the statement, Michaels said "feels great" and had "no symptoms." "I feel great, I have no symptoms, and my temperature this morning was 97.5. I look forward to returning to the booth as soon as possible," Michaels said.

According to NBCUniversal, Cris Collinsworth and Michele Tafoya were cleared and will appear with Tirico on the broadcast.

With Tirico moving to Sunday's game, Joe Davis will replace Tirico for the play-by-play for Saturday's game against the Carolina Panthers and Green Bay Packers, according to Sports Business Journal's John Ourand.

Tirico, who typically hosts the pregame show "Sunday Night Football," will be replaced by Liam McHugh on "Football Night in America," according to the news release.