Mike Tirico is set to make broadcasting history this February as he prepares to both call his first Super Bowl and serve as the primetime host for NBC“s Olympic coverage. This remarkable feat will make him the first person to fulfill both roles in the same year.
On Sunday, Tirico will take the microphone for the Super Bowl, featuring the matchup between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots. Immediately following the game, he will transition to his Olympic hosting duties, marking a unique milestone in his extensive career.
In a career filled with notable achievements, this February stands out as particularly significant for Tirico. He expressed his excitement, stating, “Nothing can match this winter. You don”t even think about dreaming of doing something like this because it”s stupid to think that this is reality. But I”m so excited for it and very blessed to be a part of it.”
Tirico”s February began with a basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, as part of NBC”s “Sunday Night Basketball” package, marking the NBA”s return to the network for the first time since 2022.
This will be the third instance in which NBC has hosted both the Winter Games and the Super Bowl in the same year, but it is only the second time both events have overlapped on a single Sunday. In 2018, during the Super Bowl LII, the opening ceremony for the PyeongChang Games was just five days away, with Tirico reporting live from South Korea during the Super Bowl pregame.
In 2022, Tirico hosted the Super Bowl pregame show when the event was held in Los Angeles. After the Los Angeles Rams received the Vince Lombardi Trophy, he transitioned to host the Olympic primetime show from a set outside the stadium. Cris Collinsworth, who will serve as an analyst for his sixth Super Bowl, praised Tirico”s ability to juggle these significant responsibilities, saying, “How he keeps all of that inside that computer brain of his, I have no idea, but there”s nobody like him.”
As he prepares for the Super Bowl, Tirico will be making his 290th call of an NFL game, excluding preseason matchups. He acknowledged the significance of this opportunity and expressed gratitude to those who have supported him throughout his journey, stating, “We all work towards things in life, and maybe once we get there, we don”t appreciate the view.”
Despite the busy schedule leading up to the Super Bowl, Tirico has maintained his usual preparation routine. He began assembling his game charts and analyzing the backup quarterbacks immediately after the NFC Championship Game concluded on January 25.
Among the storylines he will cover on Sunday include Mike Vrabel“s debut season as head coach for the Patriots and Sam Darnold leading Seattle to the Super Bowl after signing as a free agent from Minnesota. Rob Hyland, the producer, expressed confidence in Tirico”s storytelling ability, recalling a vivid anecdote he shared about a rookie kicker during a regular-season game.
After concluding the Olympic show on Super Bowl Sunday, Tirico will board a flight with NBC staff to Italy, where he will begin his coverage from Milan for the Olympic Games starting on Tuesday. This will be Tirico”s fifth time as the primetime host for the Olympics and his third Winter Games, building on his previous experiences covering FIFA World Cups and UEFA European Championships for ESPN.
As he embarks on this new challenge, Tirico is prepared to manage the fast-paced environment of the Olympics, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a consistent routine to ensure both performance and well-being throughout the event.
