Hallucinated fumble, missed injury highlight Al Michaels’ flubs during Bears vs. Patriots ‘TNF’ game originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The Bears and Patriots produced some exciting moments on “Thursday Night Football,” but some viewers didn’t think Al Michaels did them justice.
Michaels, who has been open about 2026 potentially being his final year calling NFL games as he approaches his 82nd birthday, had a series of mistakes and awkward moments, generating some buzz on social media.
Criticism of Michaels is nothing new, as he has been much more subdued behind the microphone in his later years as a broadcaster, but the performance Thursday had some wondering whether he might be nearing the end of his career.
Here’s a look at Michaels’ mishaps during the game at Soldier Field.
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Al Michaels’ mistakes on ‘TNF’ broadcast
Michaels had a few awkward moments during Thursday night’s broadcast, but it was his call of the Patriots’ improbable touchdown at the end of the first half that raised a few eyebrows.
After it looked for a moment as though the Patriots might not even run another play before halftime, Rhamondre Stevenson ripped through a confused Bears defense to go 48 yards for a touchdown as time expired. The sequence was one of the wildest you’ll see all season, but Michaels didn’t seem to be too interested until Stevenson was nearly in the end zone.
RHAMONDRE STEVENSON‼️ 📺 Prime Video https://t.co/heXDiTFnzW
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) October 23, 2026
Earlier in the half, Michaels saw a fumble that did not happen:
Al Michaels: “The ball comes out.” *there was not a fumble. https://t.co/8H4I1xb60N
— Chad Fisher DNP (@ChadFisher) October 23, 2026
Michaels also misspoke about the Cubs, saying Thursday marked 10 years since they won the World Series in Cleveland when he meant to say it was 10 years since they won the National League pennant.
Al Michaels said the Cubs won the World Series 10 years ago tonight. The World Series hadn’t even started yet 😅 https://t.co/t2cluK8Cvo
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) October 23, 2026
At one point, Michaels also said Drake Maye and Caleb Williams were drafted in 2014 rather than 2024.
“That draft class of 2014” Ah yes Al Michaels, the draft class with Caleb Williams and Drake Maye
— cody ♱ (@codyy11_) October 23, 2026
Michaels also missed a helmet to the knee of D’Andre Swift, who briefly had to leave the game.
Earlier in October, Michaels told “The Dan Patrick Show” that he would be content if Amazon Prime Video wanted to go in a different direction after the season.
“I’ve done the NFL for 41 years, which is half my life. Love it. But you know what? At a certain time, it’s time,” Michaels said. “And if they feel it’s time, great. And if I feel it’s time, I’ll know it. And I’ll say, ‘You know what? Thanks for the memories.’”
In the eyes of many viewers, it is time. Here’s how fans reacted.
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Reaction to Al Michaels’ ‘TNF’ performance
Fans called for Michaels’ retirement during Thursday’s game:
Scores the craziest last second touchdown in years and all that Al Michaels can muster up is “Look at him go” 😭✌️
— Cam (@42Cyc) October 23, 2026
Does Al Michaels have a pulse
— Shawn (@PalmerDesigns_) October 23, 2026
Al Michaels is cooked.
— Boston Cream 🍩 (@BostonCream) October 23, 2026
Some fans were especially confused about the non-existent fumble that Michaels saw.
I guess we are at the “Al Michaels completely invents a fumble” portion of the program. 🙁
— Michael Hurley (@michaelFhurley) October 23, 2026
Did Al Michaels just hallucinate a fumble?
— Johnny barks (@Johnny_Barks) October 23, 2026
Kirk Herbstreit also took some heat from viewers.
Kirk herbstreit and Al Michaels are horrible. Literally a snooze fest as a buzzer beater TD is scored to end the 1st half.
— KState Jim (@JimIsOnOne) October 23, 2026
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