Mike Tirico has been the voice of some incredible moments in sports history, and I’m not just talking about his current gig as the full-time voice of “Sunday Night Football”. The guy has been calling games for years, and he’s got a knack for capturing the excitement and drama of the biggest plays. From his days on “Monday Night Football” to his time covering the NBA and college football, Tirico has been a part of some truly iconic moments.
Let’s take a look at some of the best calls of his career. Coming in at number 11 is the Steve Gleason blocked punt, which was a huge play in the New Orleans Saints’ return to the Superdome after Hurricane Katrina. Tirico’s call was perfect, setting the scene and capturing the emotion of the moment. “Look out! Right through! The kick blocked by Steve Gleason!” he exclaimed, followed by “Touchdown, New Orleans!” – a nice touch, using the city’s name instead of just the team’s.
At number 10, we’ve got Saquon Barkley’s 78-yard touchdown run against the Los Angeles Rams. Tirico’s call was electric, conveying the excitement of the play. “There goes Barkley! Into the clear, through the snow, all the way home!” he yelled, and you could feel the energy of the moment.
Number 9 takes us back to the 2013 Outback Bowl, where Jadeveon Clowney delivered a massive hit on Vincent Smith. Tirico was on the call, and his reaction was priceless. “What a hit! Ball’s free! South Carolina deserves to have it, and they do!” he exclaimed, and that line has become synonymous with the play.
The rest of the list is just as impressive. There’s Brett Favre’s game-winning touchdown pass to Greg Jennings, which Tirico called with his usual flair. “It is…hauled in by Greg Jennings! The Packers win in overtime! Un-be-lievable!” he exclaimed, and you could feel the drama of the moment.
We’ve also got the infamous Packers-Seahawks “Fail Mary” game, where Tirico captured the confusion and chaos of the moment. “The game’s final play is a Wilson lob to the end zone, which is…fought for by Tate, with Jennings simultaneous. Who has it? Who do they give it to? Touchdown!” he yelled, and it’s still hard to believe what happened in that game.
Tirico has also made some amazing calls in the NBA. Who could forget Kobe Bryant’s final game, where he hit a go-ahead shot with less than a minute remaining? Tirico rose to the occasion, calling the play with his usual passion. “The Lakers down one. Will Kobe give them one last gamer? Bryant on the move, with the jumper…he got it! 58 points! And the Lakers lead!” he exclaimed, and it was a moment that will be remembered for years to come.
And then there’s the college football world, where Tirico has made some incredible calls. Take Caleb Williams’ improbable touchdown pass against the Los Angeles Rams, for example. Tirico’s call was perfect, capturing the excitement and drama of the moment. “In all kinds of trouble, put it up for grabs in the end zone…he got it! For the touchdown! They’ve done it again! Unbelievable!” he yelled, and it was a moment that will be remembered for years to come.
But the number one spot on our list has to go to Damian Lillard’s series-winning buzzer-beater against the Houston Rockets. Tirico was on the call, and his reaction was amazing. “Nine-tenths left. A three wins the series. It’s Lillard, he got the shot off! Lillard, good! Good! And the Blazers win the series for the first time in 14 years!” he exclaimed, and it’s a call that will be remembered for years to come.
Overall, Mike Tirico has a knack for capturing the excitement and drama of the biggest moments in sports. His calls are always passionate, always energetic, and always memorable. He’s a true legend in the world of sports broadcasting, and we’re lucky to have him behind the mic.
