Al Michaels is back in the booth for Amazon’s “Thursday Night Football,” and the 81-year-old broadcasting legend wasted zero time jumping into the political deep end, taking a direct shot at President Donald Trump’s recent executive order to rename Lake Ontario. His return broadcast for 2026 quickly turned heads for reasons way beyond the game itself.
That Lake Erie Shoutout Blew Up
The whole thing went down during a preseason Browns vs. Patriots game in Cleveland. Coming out of a commercial break, cameras cut to Lake Erie, and Michaels, ever the quick wit, went for it. “That is Lake Erie. We think it is still called Lake Erie… We’re not quite sure at this point,” he quipped. This wasn’t just some random thought. He was clearly poking fun at Trump’s recent directive to change Lake Ontario’s name to “Lake America” in the United States geographic naming service. It’s the kind of unexpected, sharp commentary you just don’t hear often, especially from someone usually focused squarely on the Xs and Os.
It’s All About “Read the News”
Trump’s executive order, signed Thursday, means the Interior Department would update the lake’s name in the U.S., though Canada doesn’t have to follow suit. This whole situation is part of an escalating trade war between the two countries, and Michaels absolutely took notice. He made sure NFL fans were clued in, telling them to “read the news” that Thursday night. He continued his thought, “But we’ll be by Lake something like Ontario or whatever it’s going to be called by the time we get to Buffalo. Anyway, you know what I’m talking about… Read the news.” That clip? It instantly went viral, showing Michaels isn’t shying away from offering an opinion or a well-placed joke, even at 81 years old. Get ready for an NFL season of commentary that might just be as wild as the games themselves.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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