{"id":467975,"date":"2026-02-23T10:25:12","date_gmt":"2026-02-23T10:25:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/467975\/"},"modified":"2026-02-23T10:25:12","modified_gmt":"2026-02-23T10:25:12","slug":"mike-tirico-praised-for-monologue-to-close-out-usa-gold-medal-broadcast","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/467975\/","title":{"rendered":"Mike Tirico praised for monologue to close out USA gold medal broadcast"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s been an incredible two weeks of work for Mike Tirico. After calling his first Super Bowl LX<\/a> for NBC, he left for Italy the next day<\/a> to serve as the network\u2019s primetime host for the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. And he capped it all off with a masterclass to wrap up NBC\u2019s broadcast of the USA-Canada men\u2019s hockey gold medal game on Sunday.<\/p>\n

The USA won a gold medal in men\u2019s hockey<\/a> for the first time since the \u201cMiracle on Ice\u201d in 1980, with a thrilling 2-1 overtime victory over Canada. After the game ended and the on-ice ceremonies took place, Tirico delivered a live essay on NBC with a heartfelt message to close out the broadcast.<\/p>\n

NBC Sports shared a social media clip showing a minute of Tirico\u2019s commentary.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur country loves sports and it brings us together unlike anything else.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mike Tirico wraps up a HISTORIC #WinterOlympics<\/a> for Team USA. \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 pic.twitter.com\/dRnOWTQk4M<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 NBC Sports (@NBCSports) February 22, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

And we have transcribed much of Tirico\u2019s closing message here:<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, 1960, just outside of Lake Tahoe, California, and 1980 in Lake Placid, New York, is in North America, in the United States, where the U.S. won those gold medals,\u201d Tirico said. \u201cAnd because of a drought that almost lasted a half-century, those teams are revered. They are held onto forever. And what happened today doesn\u2019t take away from the greatness of those teams, or the meaning that those teams have in U.S. hockey.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut what you saw today was the build of a generation, inspired perhaps by that team that lost in 2010 in Vancouver to the Sidney Crosby golden goal in overtime, or the team where T.J. Oshie had all those shootout goals in 2014. That\u2019s when these guys were doing what you\u2019re doing, watching on TV, and they were young, and they were living the dream.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, for all the young people out there, not just the hockey, but all the Olympics you\u2019ve watched, those dreams are formed now. Go chase them and go get them, because our country loves sports, and it brings us together unlike anything else. And if you didn\u2019t know that, and if you haven\u2019t been watching the last two weeks, you saw it in Team USA Hockey winning the gold over their arch rival Canada here in Milan to wrap up these 25th Olympic Winter Games.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Hughes brothers,\u201d Tirico continued. \u201cWe know family is so much a part of your lives and sports. The Hughes brothers grew up as kids with a dream. The trio have all become first-round picks in the National Hockey League. And the two oldest got to live their dreams and have magical moments. Quinn Hughes in overtime against Sweden in the quarterfinals, and his brother, a few teeth down, bloodied, undeterred, the U.S. hockey brotherhood defied by Jack Hughes. The winning goal that will be remembered forever and set the chants of \u2018USA\u2019 resonating through this building.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd that team, that group, who knew how good the Canadian team was, who\u2019ve gone up against these guys every night in the National Hockey League, know what they\u2019ve done. They\u2019ve laid a marker down for hockey in America.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd Connor Hellebuyck, with a save of a lifetime. If Connor Hellebuyck has a fireplace, and there\u2019s a mantle to hang a picture over, that is it. And that picture will last forever for goalies in America for that save. And he should be the one carrying the flag, because he carried the team in this gold medal game.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe memory of Johnny Gaudreau touches all. And was not far. His jersey hung in that locker room every game of this Olympics. All six wins for the U.S. It\u2019s proudly displayed like the flag.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd 46 years ago today, Mike Eruzione called everybody up on that small platform for that moment in Lake Placid to be joined together in celebration of American gold. 46 years to the day, the U.S. together, arm in arm, listening to the \u2018Star-Spangled Banner\u2019 with American pride.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom Milan, Italy, bringing a nation together in the name of sport, and spirit, and success. United States, two. Canada, one, in overtime. The U.S. wins the gold medal.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tirico received enormous praise from NBC viewers after delivering his monologue. Here\u2019s a sampling of the reactions on social media:<\/p>\n

\u201cFor all the young people out there, those dreams are formed now. Go chase them and go get them, because our country loves sports and it brings us together unlike anything else. And if you didn\u2019t know that\u2026you saw it in Team USA Hockey\u201d<\/p>\n

What a signoff from Tirico just now\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 pic.twitter.com\/ftgjfednAq<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Connor Griffin (@RealCGriff) February 22, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

. @miketirico<\/a> and @NBCSports<\/a> were as good as it gets in that last hour.<\/p>\n

All-Time Great sports broadcasting there.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Scott Hanson (@ScottHanson) February 22, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Just rewatched the men\u2019s hockey gold medal game. From start to finish, from the pictures to the commentary, the game winning goal to Hellebuyck\u2019s saves, the storylines, the brothers, the tribute to Gaudreau, the ceremony and Mike Tirico\u2019s wrap up of it all- it was just perfect.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Tracy Wolfson (@tracywolfson) February 22, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Shout out to Kenny Albert on play by play and Mike Tirico with a flawless live essay at the end of the #USAHockey<\/a> gold medal. Two superb performances that rose to the moment. #Olympics2026<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Rick Reilly (@ReillyRick) February 22, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Mike Tirico.
His wrap-up of Team USA\u2019s gold medal winning performance was as good as it gets.
It was like Vin Scully\u2019s call of the Sandy Koufax perfect game. If you had hours to script what you wanted to say, you wouldn\u2019t top what he just ad-libbed.
Absolutely amazing<\/p>\n

\u2014 Dan Hoard (@Dan_Hoard) February 22, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

The final 2 minutes of Mike Tirico and NBC\u2019s coverage of the gold medal game should win every award imaginable.<\/p>\n

Just incredible TV.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Joe Danneman (@FOX19Joe) February 22, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

The Mike Tirico monologue to wrap the broadcast \u2014 seamlessly contextualizing and storytelling solo for about five minutes \u2014 was a masterclass in great anchoring. https:\/\/t.co\/FuCV1bTAAE<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Sam Ekstrom (@SamEkstrom) February 22, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Tirico has nailed the Jim McKay\/Bob Costas role as Olympics host. This sign off captured the moment so well. https:\/\/t.co\/TlUcalzTWg<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Brent Axe (@BrentAxeMedia) February 22, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Mike Tirico is in that class of Jim McKay and Bob Costas for lead Olympics TV hosts.<\/p>\n

Incredible job.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Wes Reynolds (@WesReynolds1) February 22, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Mike Tirico\u2019s lovely monologue to close out the epic gold medal game shows how the way we think about the core appeal of sports has changed, and for the better IMO. More than ever it\u2019s about bringing people together and inspiring kids. Bring on the World Cup.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Michael Mulvihill (@mulvihill79) February 22, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Tirico was named Awful Announcing\u2019s best play-by-play announcer in 2025<\/a>, and the last two weeks showed that he\u2019s also elite in the hosting role.<\/p>\n

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