Bob Costas, the central voice of NBC\u2019s Olympics coverage for a quarter-century, is leaving the host\u2019s seat. Mike Tirico will take over as host of NBC\u2019s Olympics programming starting next year with the Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea. Costas is also reducing his…<\/b>
Bob Costas, the central voice of NBC\u2019s Olympics coverage for a quarter-century, is leaving the host\u2019s seat. Mike Tirico will take over as host of NBC\u2019s Olympics programming starting next year with the Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea. Costas is also reducing his role in several other NBC sports endeavors, including NFL football and the Triple Crown.
\u201cIt just felt to me like the right time and it\u2019s felt like the right time for a while,\u201d Costas told the New York Times . \u201cThis was a good time to step away, while I could still do it.\u201d
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Costas hosted the Olympics for 24 years. NBC itself has broadcast every Summer Olympics since 1988, and every Winter Olympics since 2002. The network also holds the rights to every Olympics going forward through 2032.
Prior to last year\u2019s Rio Games, Costas decided that he would step down, and Rio provided a suitable endpoint from a narrative perspective. \u201cRio had some capstone moments,\u201d he said. \u201c Michael Phelps was finishing off. So was Usain Bolt. And Simone Biles was emerging. It had moments that felt like closure to me, and this felt like a good time to step aside.\u201d Costas was able to go out on a high note after an awkward Sochi Games in which an eye infection sidelined him for several days. Costas noted that the demands of the job have changed significantly in recent years, with less space available for commentary and more time needed for quick, immediate updates.
Costas will also step away from the hosting desk at NBC\u2019s Sunday Night Football, and will scale back his coverage of the Triple Crown and other events. He\u2019ll take on more of an elder statesman role, commenting on major events and significant breaking news.
This marks the latest in a string of high-profile announcers departing their longtime posts. Verne Lundquist, Vin Scully, Brent Musburger, and Chris Berman have all stepped away from the microphone in recent months.
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Jay Busbee is a writer for Yahoo Sports and the author of EARNHARDT NATION , on sale now at Amazon or wherever books are sold. Contact him at jay.busbee@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter or on Facebook .<\/p>\n