Amazon Prime Video is loading up on talent for their Thursday Night Football broadcast, and now they’ve added Michael Smith to their studio team.
The former ESPN host will be part of the pregame, halftime and postgame shows as a news analyst. The shows, hosted by Charissa Thompson, also feature analysts Tony Gonzalez, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Richard Sherman.
“It’s a full-circle moment. It’s back to my roots in many respects. I always wanted to be a part of a national telecast … and here I am,” Smith told USA Today Sports.
It’s not Smith’s first go-round with the NFL.
Between 2001 – 2004, Smith covered the New England Patriots for the Boston Globe. He then moved to ESPN for 15 years, starting as an NFL insider before becoming a commentator and a host of a variety of shows including Numbers Never Lie. He also co-hosted SC6 and the His & Hers podcast with Jemele Hill.
Smith left ESPN in 2019 and launched his own company, Inflection Point Entertainment. He currently co-hosts the show Brother From Another with Michael Holley on Peacock TV.
While he’s working on a more expansive deal with NBC, Smith is happy to be back in the world of the NFL.
“I’ve spent more than two decades covering dynasties and super teams—now I finally get to be a part of one,” said Smith in a statement. “The talent and experience Prime Video have assembled on-camera, behind the camera, and throughout the entire TNF team qualifies as a bona fide Dream Team, and it’s an actual dream come true for me to be a part of a historic, groundbreaking prime-time NFL broadcast.”
Smith joins the recently hired Taylor Rooks on the Amazon NFL team that also includes Al Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit.
