Watching NFL Football is one of my favorite things to do, it's one of the
reasons I love the fall and winter seasons.
With that comes the broadcasters who call the games. Here I will rank my Top 10 NFL Broadcasters,
including analysts. These guys are all
currently on air and I will explain why I like them.
10. Joe Buck, play-by-play, FOX
Most people hate Joe Buck and dread getting him for their team's game. I don't exactly feel that way, because that means Fox's #1 team is covering us. My only real problem with Buck is how much Fox overuses him, from their NFL and MLB broadcasts. But he knows when to get excited (usually) and knows the NFL game very well and knows the players just as well as any broadcaster. Another thing I don't like is how often he concludes a big play with "No flags," especially the DeSean Jackson punt return TD in the Miracle at the Meadowlands. Totally killed the vibe of that play.
9. Chris Collinsworth, analyst, NBC
Another one that most fans don't like but I kind of do is Chris Collinsworth. I love how much he knows the game and I almost always agree with his viewpoint on certain things like rules and calls by the officials. His call of the Odell Beckham Jr. catch certainly made it better. The one thing I don't like too much is the sound of his voice. It's nasally and can get annoying over time.
8. Greg Gumbel, play-by-play, CBS
He and Dan Dierdorf made just the perfect pairing and were one of my favorites to call a game. Now that Dierdorf has retired it's just not the same. But Gumbel's experience and smooth-sounding voice are always a pleasure. But he seems to be a bit better fit for CBS's college basketball games now.
7. Daryl Johnston, analyst, FOX
Kenny, Moose & Goose were quite the trio on FOX for a few years. Now that "Goose" (Tony Siragusa) is gone, it's not the same, but Daryl "Moose" Johnston is doing a good job basically doing both roles now. He has a voice made for TV broadcasts and it really is quite the contrast from Kenny Albert's nasally sounding one.
6. Kevin Burkhardt, play-by-play, FOX
Kevin hasn't been in the NFL business for that long but he's done a great job, rising to FOX's #2 team with John Lynch. He has a very good sounding voice and knows when the situation calls for excitement. The Seahawks get him a lot, which I am totally fine with.
5. Ian Eagle, play-by-play, CBS
Ian and his partner Dan Fouts work well together on CBS and have for years. Ian does a good job calling NBA games as well. He knows the game well and his calls of big plays are some of my favorite. Whenever I see a game of his on TV I always have to watch at least part of it.
4. Jim Nantz, play-by-play, CBS
Jim has been a CBS mainstay for years, moving from studio to broadcast booth not too long ago. He always works with Phil Simms, who he works well with but at times brings down the level of energy generated by Nantz. But whenever CBS does the Super Bowl, Jim always does a great job.
3. Jon Gruden, analyst, ESPN
I loved Jon Gruden as a coach and I love him even more as an analyst for Monday Night Football. He knows the game and knows plays, formations, you name it, being a former coach. He picks his Gruden Grinder and that always tends to be someone overlooked. Not sure I like the pairing of Gruden and McDonough (He and Tirico did such a great job together), but perhaps with time it'll make more sense. After all, I wasn't a huge fan of Tirico/Gruden at first.
2. Kevin Harlan, play-by-play, CBS, Westwood One
Kevin Harlan simply put is one of the best in the business. Not only does he excel at calling NFL games on TV AND radio (doing the radio broadcast for every Monday Night Football game), but he excels at calling College Basketball for CBS during March Madness time. Recently Kevin made a radio call for a Rams/49ers MNF game about a maniac running on the field and it was totally epic.
1. Al Michaels, play-by-play, NBC
He is the best in the business and has been for years. There's a reason NBC is hanging on tight to him (and even got him to do two games a week for a bit). It'll be a sad day for me when he decides to retire. I will go out of my way to watch Sunday Night Football games on NFL GamePass just to hear him call a game. For someone 70+ years old he sure knows the game and its players well.
10. Joe Buck, play-by-play, FOX
Most people hate Joe Buck and dread getting him for their team's game. I don't exactly feel that way, because that means Fox's #1 team is covering us. My only real problem with Buck is how much Fox overuses him, from their NFL and MLB broadcasts. But he knows when to get excited (usually) and knows the NFL game very well and knows the players just as well as any broadcaster. Another thing I don't like is how often he concludes a big play with "No flags," especially the DeSean Jackson punt return TD in the Miracle at the Meadowlands. Totally killed the vibe of that play.
9. Chris Collinsworth, analyst, NBC
Another one that most fans don't like but I kind of do is Chris Collinsworth. I love how much he knows the game and I almost always agree with his viewpoint on certain things like rules and calls by the officials. His call of the Odell Beckham Jr. catch certainly made it better. The one thing I don't like too much is the sound of his voice. It's nasally and can get annoying over time.
8. Greg Gumbel, play-by-play, CBS
He and Dan Dierdorf made just the perfect pairing and were one of my favorites to call a game. Now that Dierdorf has retired it's just not the same. But Gumbel's experience and smooth-sounding voice are always a pleasure. But he seems to be a bit better fit for CBS's college basketball games now.
7. Daryl Johnston, analyst, FOX
Kenny, Moose & Goose were quite the trio on FOX for a few years. Now that "Goose" (Tony Siragusa) is gone, it's not the same, but Daryl "Moose" Johnston is doing a good job basically doing both roles now. He has a voice made for TV broadcasts and it really is quite the contrast from Kenny Albert's nasally sounding one.
6. Kevin Burkhardt, play-by-play, FOX
Kevin hasn't been in the NFL business for that long but he's done a great job, rising to FOX's #2 team with John Lynch. He has a very good sounding voice and knows when the situation calls for excitement. The Seahawks get him a lot, which I am totally fine with.
5. Ian Eagle, play-by-play, CBS
Ian and his partner Dan Fouts work well together on CBS and have for years. Ian does a good job calling NBA games as well. He knows the game well and his calls of big plays are some of my favorite. Whenever I see a game of his on TV I always have to watch at least part of it.
4. Jim Nantz, play-by-play, CBS
Jim has been a CBS mainstay for years, moving from studio to broadcast booth not too long ago. He always works with Phil Simms, who he works well with but at times brings down the level of energy generated by Nantz. But whenever CBS does the Super Bowl, Jim always does a great job.
3. Jon Gruden, analyst, ESPN
I loved Jon Gruden as a coach and I love him even more as an analyst for Monday Night Football. He knows the game and knows plays, formations, you name it, being a former coach. He picks his Gruden Grinder and that always tends to be someone overlooked. Not sure I like the pairing of Gruden and McDonough (He and Tirico did such a great job together), but perhaps with time it'll make more sense. After all, I wasn't a huge fan of Tirico/Gruden at first.
2. Kevin Harlan, play-by-play, CBS, Westwood One
Kevin Harlan simply put is one of the best in the business. Not only does he excel at calling NFL games on TV AND radio (doing the radio broadcast for every Monday Night Football game), but he excels at calling College Basketball for CBS during March Madness time. Recently Kevin made a radio call for a Rams/49ers MNF game about a maniac running on the field and it was totally epic.
1. Al Michaels, play-by-play, NBC
He is the best in the business and has been for years. There's a reason NBC is hanging on tight to him (and even got him to do two games a week for a bit). It'll be a sad day for me when he decides to retire. I will go out of my way to watch Sunday Night Football games on NFL GamePass just to hear him call a game. For someone 70+ years old he sure knows the game and its players well.
