Al Michaels: Wife, Contract, How Much Does He Make and Vegetables

Al Michaels is one of the most recognizable voices in American sports broadcasting. From the Olympics and MLB to Monday Night Football, Sunday Night Football and Thursday Night Football, Michaels has built a career spanning more than five decades. In 2026, he remains part of Amazon Prime Video’s NFL coverage.

Fans searching for Al Michaels wife, contract, how much does he make and vegetables are often interested in both his broadcasting career and the unusual eating habit that has become part of his public persona.

Al Michaels Wife

Al Michaels is married to Linda Stamaton, whom he met when they were young. The couple married on August 27, 1966, and have remained together for decades. They have two children, Jennifer and Steven.

Michaels has spoken about Linda and their long marriage in interviews and profiles throughout his career. Sports Business Journal described Linda as Michaels’ high school crush and future wife.

The couple has also lived in the same Los Angeles home for many years. A 2022 Los Angeles Times profile noted that Michaels and Linda had been married for decades and had lived in their home since 1986.

Their long relationship has been part of Michaels’ personal story alongside his remarkable broadcasting career.

Al Michaels Contract

Al Michaels joined Amazon Prime Video in 2022 after leaving his longtime role as the lead voice of NBC’s Sunday Night Football.

Amazon hired Michaels to lead its new exclusive Thursday Night Football package. His original Amazon agreement was reported as a three-year contract, covering the 2022 through 2024 seasons.

The reported value of that original contract was approximately $45 million to $48 million over three years, although the exact terms were not publicly released by Amazon.

After the original agreement expired, Michaels continued working with Amazon on a year-to-year basis.

In January 2026, Amazon confirmed that Michaels would return for another season of NFL coverage. He continued his role as the play-by-play voice of Thursday Night Football.

Therefore, his current 2026 arrangement should not be described as the original three-year contract. The exact financial terms of his latest deal have not been publicly disclosed.

How Much Does Al Michaels Make?

So, how much does Al Michaels make?

Reports surrounding his original Amazon contract placed his annual compensation at approximately $15 million to $16 million. Sporting News reported that Michaels’ initial offer was around $11 million annually for a smaller schedule before his expected compensation increased when he agreed to call the full Thursday Night Football schedule.

Reports have commonly used approximately $15 million per year as the figure associated with his Amazon salary.

However, it is important to distinguish between a reported salary and a publicly confirmed salary. Amazon has not publicly released the exact terms of Michaels’ 2026 agreement.

As a result, the safest description is that Al Michaels has been widely reported to earn around $15 million annually from his Amazon NFL broadcasting work, while his exact 2026 compensation remains private.

Al Michaels Salary Compared With NBC

Michaels was also reportedly one of the highest-paid NFL broadcasters during his time at NBC.

Sporting News reported that he earned approximately $8 million per season during his final NBC years, although the publication noted that the exact duration and terms of that salary were not publicly known.

His reported Amazon compensation was therefore substantially higher than the figures commonly associated with his final NBC contract.

The difference also reflects the changing economics of sports broadcasting, particularly as major streaming companies compete for premium live sports rights.

Al Michaels and Vegetables

One of the strangest facts about Al Michaels is his famous dislike of vegetables.

Michaels has repeatedly said that he has essentially never eaten vegetables. His unusual eating habit has been documented in numerous profiles and interviews.

In a 2022 Los Angeles Times interview, Michaels said he had never eaten a vegetable and had no plans to change that.

His aversion reportedly began during childhood. Sports Business Journal described how Michaels’ mother did not force him to eat vegetables after he rejected them as a child.

That childhood preference eventually became one of the most famous quirks associated with the legendary broadcaster.

Did Al Michaels Ever Eat a Vegetable?

There have been a few unusual exceptions to Michaels’ famous vegetable rule.

According to Sports Business Journal, his broadcasting colleagues once tried to get him to eat a fried Brussels sprout. Michaels took a bite without initially realizing what it was.

Another story involved Michaels mistaking a piece of okra for a tater tot at a party. Once he realized what it was, he reportedly rejected it.

Michaels’ vegetable avoidance has therefore become something of an inside joke among his longtime colleagues.

Why Does Al Michaels Not Eat Vegetables?

Michaels has explained that his dislike of vegetables goes back to childhood rather than being a recently adopted diet.

He has described preferring foods such as steak and potatoes while growing up. His mother apparently allowed him to avoid vegetables instead of forcing him to eat them.

His unusual food preference followed him into adulthood.

Reports have even described Michaels asking restaurants to remove green garnishes from his meals. His aversion has become so well known that colleagues have repeatedly joked about trying to get him to eat vegetables.

Al Michaels’ Broadcasting Career

Michaels’ career extends far beyond the NFL.

He became nationally famous after calling the United States’ dramatic hockey victory over the Soviet Union at the 1980 Winter Olympics. His famous call became one of the most memorable moments in American sports broadcasting history.

He later became the voice of Monday Night Football and spent 16 seasons as the lead play-by-play announcer for NBC’s Sunday Night Football.

Michaels then joined Amazon for its first season of exclusive Thursday Night Football coverage in 2022.

In 2026, he returned for another season alongside analyst Kirk Herbstreit.

Al Michaels Quick Facts

FAQs About Al Michaels

Who is Al Michaels’ wife?

Al Michaels’ wife is Linda Stamaton. They married in 1966 and have two children, Jennifer and Steven.

How much does Al Michaels make?

Al Michaels has been widely reported to earn approximately $15 million per year from his Amazon NFL broadcasting work. His exact 2026 compensation has not been publicly disclosed.

What is Al Michaels’ Amazon contract?

Michaels originally signed a reported three-year Amazon contract beginning in 2022. Reports valued the deal at approximately $45 million to $48 million. After that contract ended, he continued with Amazon on a year-to-year basis.

Does Al Michaels eat vegetables?

Michaels is famous for avoiding vegetables. He has repeatedly discussed his lifelong dislike of them, although there have been stories about him being tricked into trying foods such as Brussels sprouts.

Is Al Michaels still broadcasting in 2026?

Yes. Amazon confirmed that Michaels returned for NFL coverage in 2026, continuing his role with Thursday Night Football.

Conclusion

Al Michaels’ career combines extraordinary longevity with one of the highest-profile jobs in sports broadcasting. He remains married to Linda Stamaton, his wife since 1966, and continues to work for Amazon Prime Video in 2026.

His original Amazon contract was reportedly worth around $45 million to $48 million over three years, while his annual compensation has commonly been reported at around $15 million. His current 2026 contract terms, however, have not been publicly disclosed.

And then there is the vegetable story. Michaels’ lifelong refusal to eat vegetables remains one of the most unusual and memorable facts about the legendary broadcaster.