NFL play-by-play voices Mike Tirico and Ian Eagle say calling a game featuring Lamar Jackson is similar to calling contests featuring legends like Tiger Woods, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Michael Jordan due to the unique talent Jackson displays on the field.
Jackson is coming off a 19-17 win against the Bengals on Oct. 9. The Ravens’ quarterback has thrown for 1,067 yards on a 63.8 completion percentage and has rushed for 374 yards. He has accounted for 14 total touchdowns.
Tirico and Eagle treat Jackson as a superstar when it comes to broadcasting his games, but neither feels the pressure of calling moments for high-caliber athletes. However, there is some extra preparation and focus required when calling a game involving one of the NFL’s best athletes.
“There’s a fun to [announcing Jackson’s games] for me,” Tirico said on Glenn Clark Radio Oct. 7, two days prior to calling the Ravens’ win on NBC’s “Sunday Night Football”. “I don’t think it’s a pressure, I think it’s the fun part of our job. You prepare all week, but the fun stuff is when you get there Sunday night.”
“You’re paying attention even more,” Tirico added. “You’re always paying attention to the ball, but you’re hyper-focused on being with or a step ahead of the play and not too far behind the play.”
Tirico took over for Al Michaels as the lead voice on “Sunday Night Football” this season and was the play-by-play announcer for ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” from 2006-2015. He has dabbled in many other sports as a broadcaster, from golf to soccer to hockey and the Olympics.
Tirico compared a Lamar Jackson game to a round of golf with an all-time great.
“Here’s where I put the category,” Tirico explained. “Tiger Woods always brought you to the TV, because he might hit a golf shot you’ve never seen before. Lamar and Patrick [Mahomes] have a little bit about them that is similar to that, even Josh Allen too. You may see a play that you haven’t ever seen before and that keeps you right on top of the wheel here as you’re driving.”
Jackson’s explosive running and ability to make plays inside and outside of the pocket generates the possibility of highlight-reel plays being made at any time. NFL on CBS play-by-play voice Ian Eagle framed a Lamar Jackson game similar to Tirico.
“It’s the same way you would approach it with LeBron James, or with Kobe Bryant, or Michael Jordan before that,” Eagle said on GCR Sept. 29, days before calling the Ravens’ loss to the Bills. “When you’re at that superstar level, there’s a chance that athlete will accomplish something in that game. [It could be] a move [or] a moment that you haven’t seen before, and you don’t want to be the broadcaster that lets that one fly without at least getting in the batter’s box and taking a good cut at it.”
Eagle also calls college basketball for CBS and Brooklyn Nets games for the YES Network. He made a pretty big statement putting Jackson in the company of basketball greats such as James and Jordan. But when an athlete with as much unpredictability and talent as Jackson takes the field, broadcasters have to be on their toes and stay one play ahead in order to make that perfect, memorable call.
In the meantime, Eagle prepares for his second Jackson game of the season as the Ravens travel to MetLife Stadium in New Jersey to take on the New York Giants on Oct. 16. Eagle better be ready for anything as Jackson pulls out of the bag of tricks.
“I think what Lamar is doing is nothing short of amazing,” Eagle said.
For more from Tirico, listen to the full interview here:
For more from Eagle, listen to the full interview here:
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