Ardent NFL fans clock in for hundreds of hours of football each year, through a carousel of different three-hour broadcasts. The narrators of those games have some obvious, inherent constants — they get louder for touchdowns, they use euphemisms for penalties, and they match the tenor of a tense fourth quarter.

No two announcers are exactly alike, because that would be unforgivably boring for such an uncontrollable sport. Each network’s lead play-by-play voices find signature flourishes and specific moments to shine in. To celebrate the NFL’s full-fledged return, we decided to give out a few superlatives to those who soundtrack our Sundays (and Mondays, and Thursdays, and sometimes Fridays and Saturdays).

These are exclusive to the play-by-play broadcasters. Perhaps we’ll do something similar for color commentators, sideline reporters and studio teams in the weekends to come.

You can watch the 2025 NFL season on Fubo (Stream Free Now). Out-of-market viewers can also stream games with NFL Sunday Ticket from YouTube TV. 

Best call for a long touchdown: Kevin Burkhardt

Fox’s lead voice for NFL play-by-play has a controlled cadence and a steady delivery. That makes top-off-the-defense scores feel even more explosive and volcanic. He punctuates a long touchdown with that punchy “foot race” call when defenders are closing in:

.@DAndreSwift 39 yards to the house 💨

📺: #GBvsCHI on FOX pic.twitter.com/Rv0MwIVSaa

— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) November 17, 2024

Best call for a goal-line touchdown: Joe Buck

Buck’s late-career turn has been defined by unobtrusiveness. He allows moments to breathe and trusts his audience to feel the game for itself. That choice is perfect relief for capping a long, arduous scoring drive. The James White goal-line walk-off in Super Bowl LI is an all-timer. “He is … INNNNNNN!,” Buck now refrains on “Monday Night Football”:

David Montgomery for SIX.

📺: #SEAvsDET on ABC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus and ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/fk2Mkx1Kca

— NFL (@NFL) October 1, 2024

Best call for a leisurely Sunday on the couch: Jim Nantz

It must be attributable to “The Masters” voice. Nantz’s Sunday CBS broadcasts are loaded with “ohhh” and “ahhh” reactions, and his refined but nasally call makes it feel like you’re watching football alongside your father in a reclining chair. Does that make us Tony Romo, gleefully yelping alongside him?

Love -> Reed -> Lambeau Leap@packers rolling 👀 pic.twitter.com/eOKmR7rQKq

— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) September 7, 2025

Best call for a wild circus catch: Al Michaels

Michaels has fully leaned into being the elder statesman of NFL broadcasting. He tends to sound out the action when a ball is tipped, juggled or fought for. No one is better at expressing sheer bewilderment. There are more recent examples to pull from (his call of Jermaine Kearse’s Super Bowl snag is great), but “he did whaaaat?!” is our apotheosis:

“He did WHAT?”

This Antonio Freeman game-winner is still one of the wildest catches of all time.

18 years ago today. (Nov. 6, 2000) @BrettFavre @afreeman86 #TDIH pic.twitter.com/KD2V48uwro

— NFL Legacy (@NFLLegacy) November 6, 2018

Best call for a big interception: Mike Tirico

“Interrrrrrr-cepted” just rolls off Tirico’s tongue. Interceptions always feel more pronounced in prime time, and nothing says “lights out” like a game-sealing Sunday night pick. As a narrator, Tirico makes a noticeable effort to survey the field and describe what he’s seeing, like a ballhawking safety following the pass:

DETROIT CAN FEEL IT. #NFLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/3h31FBHtKV

— NFL (@NFL) January 21, 2024

Best call for a big hit … or a broken tackle: Kevin Harlan

Harlan’s best calls rev like a chainsaw and hum with caffeinated energy. He has the perfect delivery for a blind-side takedown in the pocket, and he smashes into the upper register as the quarterback suddenly goes down. Similarly, no one adds as large of an exclamation point to a disrespectful broken tackle (revisit his “rag doll” call of Lamar Jackson’s heroics last year). When the hit stick is involved, it has to be Harlan:

“THAT BALL IS ALIVE!”

Kevin Harlan calls the BIG sack-fumble for the @HoustonTexans pic.twitter.com/MlwtbZoPS0

— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) December 15, 2024

Also, when a rogue cat is involved, it has to be Harlan:

Kevin Harlan’s Westwood One radio call of the cat on the field is, as you might expect, an all-time great call. How much of a pro is Harlan? He worked a sponsor read into it. pic.twitter.com/3x0MVNEHNY

— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) November 5, 2019

Most likely to make you laugh: Ian Eagle

That cat play-by-play is certifiably hilarious, but have you seen this Daliesque piece of art?

Eagle modifies Taylor Swift lyrics for Travis Kelce catches. He’s particular about black and white cookies and honest about video gaming. He will never lie to us about New Jersey being in New York, but he will absolutely lie to us about the cast of “Stranger Things.” Maybe it’s the close relationship with his son, fellow broadcaster Noah, that keeps him young and off-the-cuff.

Most likely to give you chills: Joe Davis

Similar to Nantz’s affiliation with golf’s biggest event, Davis gets a boost as the voice of MLB’s World Series, and as Vin Scully’s literal successor in Los Angeles. Back in 2022, Davis told The Athletic’s Richard Deitsch about his sentimentality for sports and his appreciation for broadcast history. As a football voice, he stays in a stately and slightly restrained range. If anything, his baseball experience informs a fantastic call for short-window pocket passes, as he follows the spiral like a drive to deep center field. Check out how he elevates a meaningless Cooper Rush TD in Carolina:

rush on the rollout 👏@i_stay_sore1 hauls it in for the score!

📺: #DALvsCAR on FOX
📲: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/LvklCbYJ1e pic.twitter.com/NRUml3y2KK

— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) December 15, 2024

Now, for something really worthy of the chills:

“PREPOSTEROUS!!”

Fox’s Joe Davis on the call as Jayden Daniels hits Jamison Crowder for the game winning touchdown in Washington!! pic.twitter.com/E0zqhwq7BQ

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 22, 2024

Most likely to continue the conversation: Adam Amin

Amin moonlights as the voice of the NBA’s Chicago Bulls, and also as a Fox national baseball commentator, and also as a four-deck house DJ. He used to do women’s March Madness and the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest while at ESPN. His family emigrated from Pakistan, and he forged a serpentine path to the top of the industry. Amin debriefs football games with energy and efficiency. His well-rounded background gives him range in the booth:

Here was Adam Amin providing detailed background info on Lions kicker Jake Bates ahead of what would serve as the game-winning field goal. #NFL https://t.co/MbB9f8ckiv pic.twitter.com/4TYiEBWNlf

— The Comeback NFL (@TheComebackNFL) October 20, 2024

Most likely to inspire nostalgia: Kenny Albert

He has the vocal tone of an old-time radio guy, with the cadence and staccato of his father, Marv. Kenny Albert still sounds like he’s calling a game in the swirling winds of the old Meadowlands. Never change:

YOUNGHOE KOO FROM 58 YARDS FOR THE LEAD WITH TWO SECONDS LEFT! pic.twitter.com/8b2A4SlWKm

— NFL (@NFL) September 29, 2024

Making the most of the material: Andrew Catalon

Through no fault of his own, Catalon is often relegated to CBS’ lesser action. He’s behind Nantz, Eagle and Harlan in the network’s hierarchy, which means a lot of AFC South games. Still, Catalon’s best work can make a 1-8 Houston Texans team feel of utmost importance:

TYROD GOES AIRBORNE. #WeAreTexans

📺: #HOUvsTEN on CBS
📱: NFL app pic.twitter.com/r3NruJhWtl

— NFL (@NFL) November 21, 2021

Football definitely rewards attention to detail, and there’s a lot of viewer payoff in celebrating its specificities. Be present for these weekends long enough and the voices start seeping into your brain. The Sunday night brushing of teeth, as called by Tirico.

Streaming links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication.

(Photo of Mike Tirico: Ethan Miller / Getty Images)