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.