Kirk Herbstreit and Al Michaels receive positive reviews during Amazon debut

Kirk Herbstreit and Al Michaels made their debut on Amazon’s “Thursday Night Football” for a preseason game between the San Francisco 49ers and Houston Texans.

The long-time broadcasters combined being a household name in the college football booth in Herbstreit, with Michaels’ legendary voice as a play-by-play announcer for decades.

“Fancy meeting you here,” Michaels said at the open.

Herbstreit replied, “Great to be here. We’re going to have a heck of a year.”

Michaels responded, “Certainly are, tonight’s game, 15 regular season games.”

Fans and media gave them high marks as many understood it was their first game working together, but still noted their chemistry.

Here’s the open and a sample of reactions from fans and media:

? Al Michaels (pbp) with @KirkHerbstreit (analyst) on debut of Amazon Prime Video Thursday Night Football package #NFL #TNF #ThursdayNightFootball pic.twitter.com/L4azcSWJjb

— Announcer Schedules (@announcerskeds) August 26, 2022

Al Michaels and @KirkHerbstreit sound good to me on @PrimeVideo. If you can make second & third teamers sound interesting, and keep me engaged, you’ve done your homework. ?

— Colin Cowherd (@ColinCowherd) August 26, 2022

Nice chemistry between Al Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit. Even though this is their first game together, it sounds like they have been together for several seasons.

— Ken Fang — Get your shots!!!! (@fangsbites) August 26, 2022

Al Michaels better than 99% of all play by play callers in US and Canada. An absolute GOAT legend.

— Boston Radio Watch® (@bostonradio) August 26, 2022

Not even a full quarter in, but Amazon has killed it already. Al Michaels brings instant credibility. Kirk Herbstreit has earned everyone’s respect (CFB & NFL fans). The graphics package is sharp. It feels like an NBC SNF broadcast; fits like a glove.

— Matthew Owens? (@MatthewOwensPxP) August 26, 2022

.@KirkHerbstreit is simply a phenomenal guest! Appreciate your great insight and friendship brother! Thank you!

— Sean Salisbury (@SeanUnfiltered) August 25, 2022

Loved @NFLonPrime tonight. Al Michaels and @KirkHerbstreit are gonna be great together, really quality broadcasting team assembled top to bottom by @amazon, and the @49ers are gonna be awesome! Not sure about this fourth quarter scoreboard in X-Ray though ?. pic.twitter.com/TyhDkqg0pH

— Polaski (@josephdrobbins) August 26, 2022

@KirkHerbstreit you and Al Michaels are a blast to listen to man, can’t wait for this season

— Shawn Johnson (@Godfather_JS) August 26, 2022

Decided to watch about a quarter’s worth of 49ers-Texans to get a grip of how things will go.

I think this Al Michaels/Kirk Herbstreit duo is going to work just fine. Amazon did things right pairing these two together.

— Owen (@Alakazam_428) August 26, 2022

Keith Farner

A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.