January 23rd, 2008 
Matt Loede 
Posted in 
With a lull before the Bowl, I thought it would be fun to put together a list of some of the best NFL announcers of today. Most of these guys can be heard on broadcasts of today, while some are getting towards the end of their careers. Send us your comments on your favorites, and we’ll put together another list with readers responses.
1. Al Michaels – As classy as they come when it comes to sportscasters, a great sense of humor, keeps the viewers informed, and does an A+ job in being insightful as well.
2. Joe Buck – Similar to Michaels in a lot of ways, has a great on-air presence and doesn’t try to overshadow what is going on during the action. Also has a great sense of humor which makes him easy to listen to during games.
3. Dick Enberg – One of the true all-time greats, his demeanor and style are one-of-a-kind. Also is very informed and well prepared during broadcasts.
4. John Madden – His tenure with Pat Summeral on CBS will go down as legendary, and while it was as good as it gets then, his tandem with Michaels may actually be better. Still knows the game as good as any.
5. Mike Tirico – Great awareness of the games that he does, as well as knows things that a listener or viewer wants to know. While not overbearing, brings a great enthusim to the broadcasts. You always know what your going to get.
6. Jim Nantz – While he’s only done the big games for a short amount of time, he does a very solid job with them, and also does well working with Phil Simms as a duo on the big Sunday games.
7. Troy Aikman – Not only a great QB, but also great in the booth as well. Better than Theisman, Jaworski, or any of the former players that they think brings insight to today’s NFL broadcasts.
8. Marv Albert – Best NBA guy ever, he also does a great job on the radio during NFL Games. Some legendary calls over the years…”YESS!!!!!”
9. Greg Gumbel – Has gotten better over the time doing games. Prepared, doesn’t overshadow the action, and has a good knowledge of the players of today and yesterday. Heads and shoulders over his awful brother doing games.
10. Bob Trumpy – Always very solid with his work, he and Dick Enberg have been great for many years both on TV and now on radio.
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I would put Danielson ‘n Herbstreit over any “Color” guy that the NFL has to offer. Lets just throw in the whole College Gameday Crew in there with Fowler and not so fast… Corso!!!!
College guys just are head & shoulders and so much better than the NFL broadcasters/announcers. Or maybe it’s just the whole “College Game Excitement & Atmosphere” that goes along into it.
NBA: Kevin Harlan & Doug Collins (That’s the way a “Color Commentator” should BE!) are the best 1-2 DUO in the BIZ in SPORT Arguably!
How does Pat Summerall not make the list of best announcers? Granted he has slipped some the past few years, but during the late 80s and 90s he and Madden were the best,
Joe Buck is sooooo booorrrrinnnggg. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
Otherwise the list is a pretty fair assessment. Good choice with Trumpy.
Gus Johnson, Kevin Harlan, Mike Patrick, Daryl Johnston – are all very good also, and are the future “big names” of broadcasting.
How can Madden be on this list? He thinks his opinion is more important than the game! He used to know the game but is just making a fool of himself now. Aikman should be higher because he has the best grasp on football of any announcer today.
“Gary Thorne, Gene Deckerhoff, Keith Jackson, Curt Gowdy – These are/were great voices.
TMJ Ocala”
I can’t believe two submitters already said what I was thinking … that there is no one today as good as Tom Brookshire and Pat Summerall were as a team back in the day. Also used to love their weekly summary show “This Week in the NFL” that had highlights from the previous week’s games. Great commentary with those great NFL Films power tunes playing during them. Geat stuff!!
[quote comment=""]“Gary Thorne, Gene Deckerhoff, Keith Jackson, Curt Gowdy – These are/were great voices.
TMJ Ocala”[/quote]
[quote comment=""]I can’t believe two submitters already said what I was thinking … that there is no one today as good as Tom Brookshire and Pat Summerall were as a team back in the day. Also used to love their weekly summary show “This Week in the NFL” that had highlights from the previous week’s games. Great commentary with those great NFL Films power tunes playing during them. Geat stuff!![/quote]
Al and John are very good but when it comes to describing football Hank Stram was as good as there has ever been.
I might add that ESPN has ruined MNF as far as I am concerned. Now I watch Sunday Night Football.
First off, you all that are making a big deal about “Bryant Gumbel” on the list; can’t you read, it’s Greg Gumbel. I like the list as Joe Buck is one of my favorites. Name one person that could do baseball any better!
[John Madden? Are you kidding me? the guy looks like death warmed over! He harps on 1 player the whole game, usually the player he likes best... Every quarterback he see's that makes a good play, is automatically "the best at doing just that" until he see's the next qb to the same thing, and it starts all over again... I personally cant stand the guy, he should have became extinct when the T-rex died off...
You left out MLB play caller John Miller, now that guy is good, not lousy play calling, just calling the play, and he doesn't give shoot out a bunch of junk like his partner Joe Morgan. He's makes the dumbest comments EVER! Give Joe Morgan the boot, they shouldn't even let him call little league games!
“Wait! What’s that? That’s Hogan’s music! What’s he doing here? Good God! The legend Hulk Hogan is in the house!”
Jim Ross of the WWE. Now, please end all discussion on this matter.
Collinsworth is great and should be included. He offers great insight. Aikman is over-rated — offers the obvious and defends QBs ad nauseum. Dierdorf is a blow-hard. Bryant Gumbel did his best work on NFL games prior to doing the Today show, which seems like it was 25 years ago. I applaud the Bob Trumpy choice.
GUMBEL? WHAT? I honestly turn the sound off when that guy is commentating. Seriously. He is annoying. I feel stupider after hearing him talk at me through the television. He sucks football knowledge out of my brain.
[quote comment=""]Collinsworth is great and should be included. He offers great insight. Aikman is over-rated — offers the obvious and defends QBs ad nauseum. Dierdorf is a blow-hard. Bryant Gumbel did his best work on NFL games prior to doing the Today show, which seems like it was 25 years ago. I applaud the Bob Trumpy choice.[/quote]
It’s Al Derogatis, a former player.Few remember that Heith Jackson was the original MNF announcer. “Whoa nellie” he was one of the best.
These are all well and good but the Number 1 Sports Caster for football was none other than Howard Cosell. From 1970 – 1983 Monday Night football ruled. Cosell, Frank Gifford and “Dandy” Don Meredith were the best. Hands Down.
Joe Buck????? Not a chance! We wouldn’t even know this guy existed if he wasn’t handed these broadcasting jobs because of his dad. I rank Buck up there with the Tim McCarvers of the world. And Gumbel?? I’m not even going to start the list of things wrong with that guy (I don’t have that kind of time)
Chick Hearn is far and away the greatest SPORTS announcer EVER….not just Basketball
I agree with Dan! Joe Buck is AWEFUL!!! HE is by far the worst! And his sense of humor sucks even worse than his announcing.
[...] Last week we put out a list of my favorite all-time NFL announcers that drew more hits than any in the 18-month history of this site. Here is the link: My Top 10 All-Time Favorite NFL Broadcast and Cable TV Announcers [...]
[...] Last week we put out a list of my favorite all-time NFL announcers that drew more hits than any in the 18-month history of this site. Here is the link: My Top 10 All-Time Favorite NFL Broadcast and Cable TV Announcers [...]
One of the guys that does a great job calling football games is Tom Hammond. He filled in for B. Gumbel earlier this season, on a Thursday night telecast between the Broncos and Texans. He is very good at describing the action, and give the analyst great segways to make comments about the game. Often forgotten, Tom Hammond deserves some recognintion.
[...] Last week we put out a list of my favorite all-time NFL announcers that drew more hits than any in the 18-month history of this site. Here is the link: My Top 10 All-Time Favorite NFL Broadcast and Cable TV Announcers [...]
I believe Tony was trying to comment to the fact his Spanish is so bad with translations, he wasnt sure he was saying, He’d be caught, or pick up his dry cleaning. Thats my best guess.
However,
I believe ever since ESPN has taken over the Monday night gig, they have demonstrated their lack of a standard of conduct or professionalism greatly represented with the original Anchors such as Al Michaels, John Madden, Don Meridith, Howard Cosell, Frank Gifford, Pat Summeral (even though he was with CBS, Honorable mention), Dan Dierdorf, Keith Jackson and Bret Musberger .
These “kids” they now have on for the last 2 years act as if they are teen-agers with the keys to a Mercedes with out respecting what a Mercedes means to drivers; Leaving their McDonalds cups on the Dashboard or not wiping up the spills of ketchup on the console!
The excessive jabber between them all detracts from the game in all the sense of responsible and honorable conduct with such a gift that Monday Night Football represents to America. GROW UP, FIRE THEM or LEAVE!
Dont even think that Joe Buck is one of the reputable ones either.
There is a significant cancer among todays broadcasters called lack of professionalism in the Booth, its time to put some CHEMO to them all! I am very disappointed of these changes and the network that carries them. Go back to school and relate to what is called Standards of Conduct. You can dress up a pig in a suit, but you’ve still got a Pig making a whole lotta noise that no one wants to hear. This field is not a bunch of homies jumpin around acting up. Get with it!
05-Hogs Rule.
Joe.
Are you F’ing Nuts ACHman has taken to may hits to the head. HOOOMer Cowboy announcer if there was ever one! Only second to Moose and Goose the Moron Boys!
Where does Curt Gowdy,Ray Scott and the other pioneers fit in…this list is absurd.
Who remembers Pat Summerall? Or Curt Gowdy or Charlie Jones?
where the hell are brad nessler and lee corso
what about dick
wheres the monday night crew
you guys suck at picking
Tom Brookshire and Pat Summeral are the two
best announcers ever.These two guys can make
any games worth watching.As a matter of fact I would watch less entertaining games just to watch them.John Gruden is the only reason
I watch MNF. Tirico and Jaws are boring and
uninteresting,especially that annoying Tirico.
I say JACK BUCK (Joe’s Dad) The Buck/Hank Stram team was terrific for CBS Radio/TV especially on Monday Night! R.I.P. Tom Brookshier