Mike Tirico left ESPN, MNF 8 years ago. Paris Olympics showed he made right call.

Mike too's decision to leave ESPN in 2016 has proven to be one of the most pivotal moves of his illustrious broadcasting career at the time too was a respected voice as the play-by-play announcer for Monday Night Football but the opportunities that awaited him at NBC have elevated him to a level few could have predicted now eight years later too finds himself at the Pinnacle of sports broadcasting he is the face of NBC's Olympic coverage having just hosted the most viewed Summer Olympics since London 2012 the Paris games were resounding success for too who spent over 100 hours on air connecting with audiences during both the opening and closing ceremonies as well as throughout NBC's extensive daytime and Prime Time broadcasts the significance of this accomplishment cannot be overstated not only did too manage to Captivate viewers through interviews with athletes like Katie leeki and Simone biles but he also showed his range by engaging with entertainment figures such as Snoop Dog and Martha Stewart the Paris Olympics in particular have been a career highlight for too who described them as the quintessential Olympic experience embodying everything he imagined when he first stepped into the Olympic host chair but the Olympics are just one chapter in too's packed schedule as the NFL season approaches too is preparing to resume his role as the play-by-play announcer for Sunday Night Football the highest rated Prime Time show on television this upcoming season carries even more weight as too is set to call his first Super Bowl a dream assignment for any sports broadcaster beyond the Olympics and the NFL too's influence continues to grow with the NBA returning to NBC too is slated to become the lead play byplay announcer for the Network's coverage of the league adding yet another major sport to his already impressive resume this development is particularly symbolic as too's Mentor Bob cus was once the voice of NBC's NBA coverage during the Network's Heyday the announcement of the NBA's return to NBC which happened while Taro was in France felt like a full circle moment in his career to Rico's trajectory since leaving ES PN is a testament to his foresight and ambition when he left the mothership as ESPN is often called the move was seen as risky Monday Night Football was not the PowerHouse it had once been and ESPN was still considered the unrivaled leader in sports broadcasting however Taro saw the potential for something greater at NBC his gamble has paid off spectacularly at NBC too has become the successor to broadcasting Legends like Al Michaels and Bob cess taking on roles that were once theirs and making them his own despite stepping into such big shoes too hasn't had to alter what made him great in the first place his natural ability to connect with audiences whether he's hosting interviewing or calling play byplay has only flourished at NBC he figures at NBC have praised too's work since his arrival Mark Lazarus the chairman of NBC Universal and Rick cordella the president of NBC Sports have both expressed how too has exceeded expectations commending his versatility and the ease with which he communicates complex storylines to viewers his talent and work ethic have allowed him to master an array of sports from NFL football to Olympic events to golf and even the Kentucky Derby