Football Zebras 2024 Broadcaster of the Year is Mike Tirico

Some announcers take time to know the rules and officiating mechanics and are not quick to jump on officials if something controversial happens. For the second year, our editorial staff is recognizing a broadcaster who exemplifies these traits.

The 2024 Football Zebras Broadcaster of the Year is Mike Tirico at NBC Sports.

Tirico’s illustrious broadcasting career began in 1991 as a SportsCenter anchor on ESPN, which ultimately led to his 10-year stint as the play-by-play announcer for Monday Night Football. After 25 years with ESPN, Tirico was hired by NBC Sports in 2016, and after a few seasons of filling in for Al Michaels on Sunday Night Football on various weeks, he became the play-by-play announcer, joining Cris Collinsworth in the booth, in 2022.

During the third week of the preseason, officiating crews practiced working shorthanded, where the referee would leave the game and was replaced by an emergency referee — another official on the crew who was designated to take over in such a circumstance. Local broadcasting teams around the country were on top of the exercise, but Tirico took it to the next level.

When line judge Tim Podraza stepped in as the referee, Tirico not only rattled off his years of experience and game count to the viewing audience, but also, following the next play, took the time to explain how referee Shawn Hochuli was observing operations in the replay booth as part of this preseason exercise.

When most other play-by-play announcers would make a passing comment and return to the action, Tirico highlights the importance of officiating and shows he has done his research on not just the home and visiting teams, but also the third team.

Tirico has also made sure to spotlight certain items from the officiating world during his broadcasts, including celebratory events like Bill Vinovich’s 300th on-field game in Week 14, and sorrowful updates like the passing of Jim Tunney in Week 14, where he, Collinsworth, and NBC rules analyst and former referee Terry McAulay honored and remembered this mighty figure.

But, Tirico added a little nugget about Tunney’s iconic signal for a successful field goal: “clenched fist and then he’d open up his hands.” Yes, he is one of us!

Even though there are rules analysts available to every broadcast, the rules knowledge of the announcing team is still important. There is very little time for a rules analyst to answer an open-ended question either returning from commercial or between downs. Tirico is one of the few who frames the essence of a particular rule or situation when he tosses to McAulay, giving an opportunity for McAulay’s analysis to be honed and more insightful.

And, just a side note to illustrate Tirico’s proficiency in knowing the rules takes us to horse racing. In the 2019 Kentucky Derby, the horse that finished first, Maximum Security, was disqualified due to interference. Despite the fact it had never happened in a Triple Crown race, Tirico was already well versed on the procedures of the stewards reviewing a rider’s objection. There was a 22-minute delay to issue the decision, and Tirico was prepared to discuss the rules and inform the audience.

It is that attention to detail that Tirico brings to every sport, including the most complicated one contested in America.

This is the second year that Football Zebras named a Broadcaster of the Year. In 2023, the editorial staff selected Adam Amin.