Mike Tirico will replace Dan Patrick this season on NBC Sports’ studio show “Football Night in America.” Liam McHugh will backfill Tirico’s NFL game-site role. Additionally, Rob Hyland joins “Football Night”as the show’s new coordinating producer.
Tirico, who did the game-site gig for two seasons, will work alongside analysts Tony Dungy and Rodney Harrison, as well as pro-football insider Mike Florio. Those four shoot at Studio 1 at NBC Sports’ International Broadcast Center in Stamford, Connecticut.
Patrick was the “Football Night” studio host for 10 years from 2008-2017.
“As one of the most accomplished, respected and versatile voices in sports, Mike was the logical choice to move into the ‘Football Night’ studio,” said Sam Flood, executive producer and president, production, NBC Sports & NBCSN. “He will anchor our show, set the scene, and educate the audience by extracting analysis, expertise, and news from Tony, Rodney, and Mike.”
“Thank you to Dan Patrick for his outstanding work as co-host of ‘Football Night’ for the past 10 seasons,” Flood added. “His teamwork, professionalism, and friendship will be missed.”
Back in March, Patrick told the New York Post that he was offered a new longterm deal to keep the gig. Patrick turned it down, saying, “I didn’t want to do it and not love doing it.”
McHugh will now work with the “Sunday Night Football” team of Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, and Michele Tafoya.
“This is the logical progression for Liam, who has excelled at every assignment he’s been given,” Flood said of McHugh’s appointment. “We’re confident he will steward dynamic conversations between Cris, Al and Michele, and help to capture the enthusiasm of the on-site environment.”
“In addition to Mike and Liam, Rob is introducing new elements to the show that will bring viewers closer to our game that night, and better explain the biggest plays and happenings from the early games,” he said of his new producer.
McHugh is NBC Sports’ lead studio and on-site host for the NHL and Notre Dame Football and has contributed to NBC Sports’ coverage of four Olympics and three Super Bowls.
Hyland leads NBC Sports’ production of Notre Dame Football, Triple Crown horse racing, Olympic figure skating and track & field, and other sports. He also worked on NBC’s “Sunday Night Football“ in various roles for many years.
NBC Sports’ coverage of the 2018 NFL season begins with NFL Kickoff on Thursday, Sept. 6, when the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles host the Atlanta Falcons from Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. Coverage begins at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC.
18 Dramatic Championship Sports Movie Moments: From 'Rocky' to 'Remember the Titans' (Photos)
"The Pride of the Yankees" (1942)
This beautifully dramatized moment of sports history, as wonderfully monologued by Gary Cooper, helped to immortalize the already infamous "Luckiest man" speech by Lou Gehrig.
“Rocky” (1976)
In the ultimate underdog story, newcomer Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) gets a shot at the world heavyweight title against champ Apollo Creed. Rocky proves he has the goods, going the entire 15 rounds against Creed, but loses in a split decision. Rocky would get a rematch though and win the title in “Rocky II”.
"Breaking Away" (1979)
One of the most inspiring underdog stories ever made, the Little 500 bicycle race in Bloomington, Indiana, is a local classic as made famous by this film. In the film's closing race scene, the locals -- dressed in plain white T-shirts with their nickname the "Cutters" -- upset the richer college students with more expensive bikes and uniforms, riding across the finish line in pure glory.
“Chariots of Fire” (1981)
Two Englishmen push each other to be the best sprinter at the 1924 Olympics. While they won gold on the big screen’s racetrack, “Chariots of Fire” would go on to win Oscar gold for best picture.
“The Natural” (1984)
Robert Redford plays middle-age rookie Roy Hobbs in “The Natural.” Hobbs leads his team to a championship on his final at-bat when he launches the most famous home run in movie history. Thus proving the unspoken rule in baseball: If you break the lights you win the game.
“Hoosiers” (1986)
Another Indiana classic in what is widely considered one of the greatest sports movies of all time, “Hoosiers” follows a small town high school basketball team as they make it all the way to the state finals. They play a bigger and more athletic team in the finals, but with a last second shot pull off the surprise victory.
“Major League” (1989)
Charlie Sheen and Tom Berenger lead an outfit of misfit Cleveland Indians from last place to a shot at the league pennant against the powerhouse Yankees. Even though the film is a comedy, the final game plays out in dramatic fashion.
“A League of Their Own” (1992)
“A League of Their Own” proved that girls can play baseball, and ends in a play at the plate that determines the championship. Geena Davis’ Rockford Peaches may lose that final game, but as Tom Hanks taught us, “there is no crying in baseball!”
Steve James’ revolutionary documentary follows inner-city Chicago kids William Gates and Arthur Agee throughout their high-school basketball careers. The film culminates in both striving to reach the finals of their city wide championship tournament.
“Remember the Titans” (2001)
Based on the true story of Virginia’s first integrated high school football team (led by coach Denzel Washington), the Titans not only change the views of an entire town, but they go undefeated on their way to a thrilling state championship against an all-white team.
“Friday Night Lights” (2004)
The film that spawned the critically acclaimed TV series (which in turn may spawn a film of its own) is memorable in that its featured team doesn’t win the championship. The Permian Panthers mount a great comeback, but come up one yard short of the state title.
“Miracle” (2004)
In perhaps one of the greatest upsets in sports history, a team of U.S. college hockey players defeated the Soviet Union, the three-time defending gold medal winner and best team in the world, during the Cold War.
"DodgeBall" (2004)
Okay, okay. This is really a parody of sports movies. But for all its send-ups of underdog sports movie formulas, it also embraces them full-heartedly during the gripping championship showdown between the Average Joes and Globo Gym.
“The Fighter” (2010) David O. Russell‘s Oscar-winning picture depicted boxer Mickey Ward’s (Mark Wahlberg) climb up the ranks from middling contender to a shot at the title. The final fight shows the grit and heart that it took for Ward to win the belt.
"Senna" (2010)
The best sports documentaries are as riveting as their scripted counterparts, putting viewers right in the action as if they are watching it unfold live. "Senna" is one of the finest examples, using primarily archival footage with no narration and few interviews to show the bitter Formula 1 rivalry between Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost that led to the 1989 and 1990 championships being decided in controversial fashion at Japan's famed Suzuka Circuit.
"Survive and Advance" (2013)
ESPN's "30 for 30" series included a look at arguably the most famous championship run in college basketball history. In 1983, Jimmy Valvano led the North Carolina State Wolfpack on a streak of nine consecutive overtime or one-point wins, culminating in a last-second basket to win the championship over top-ranked Houston. In this documentary, even though the outcome is known, every game's heart-stopping drama is recreated perfectly.
"Creed" (2015)
The power and hypnotic beauty of this famous running scene from "Creed" as directed by Ryan Coogler is immense. Michael B. Jordan captures the inspiring training run from the original "Rocky" with a modern spirit. You can feel the emotion of the moment so strongly and can't help but root for him.
"Celtics/Lakers: Best of Enemies" (2017)
Another ESPN documentary that puts you right in the moment. Narrated by Lakers fan Ice Cube and Celtics fan Donnie Wahlberg, this five-hour doc covers the most famous championship rivalry in sports, which peaked with Magic Johnson and Larry Bird in the 80s. The tension hits its peak with Game 4 of the 1987 NBA Finals, in which Bird infamously missed a game-tying three-point shot.
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Whether it’s the thrill of victory or the agony of defeat, TheWrap recaps the biggest moments in these sports classics
