Behind the Mic: Mike Tirico To Take Over for Bob Costas as NBC’s Primetime Olympics Host

Costas served in the position for U.S. TV record 11 Olympics

With the PyeongChang Winter Games just one year away, NBC Olympics announced on Thursday that Bob Costas, the primetime host of every NBC Olympics since 1992, has passed the torch to Mike Tirico, who will make his debut as NBC’s primetime Olympic host beginning with PyeongChang 2018.

Bob Costas (right) passes the Olympics-hosting torch to Mike Tirico.

“For a quarter century, Bob expertly piloted NBC’s primetime coverage of the Olympics,” Mark Lazarus, chairman, NBC Broadcasting and Sports said. “It is with a tremendous amount of pride that I can simultaneously express our appreciation for Bob’s stellar, record-setting run, while also feeling very lucky that we have someone as talented as Mike to take over as our new primetime host.”

Costas served as NBC’s primetime host for a U.S.-television record 11 Olympics — every Olympics on NBC since 1992, including the 2012 London Games, which is the most-watched television event in U.S. history, reaching 217 million viewers. He also served as NBC’s late-night host at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

The Opening Ceremony of the PyeongChang Winter Games is slated for Feb. 9, 2018.

“It has been both a privilege and an incredible personal and professional experience to have been part of NBC’s Olympic coverage all these years,” said Costas, who has the longest tenure of NBC’s sports announcers (37 years). “I’m especially appreciative of all the talented and dedicated people I worked for and with on those broadcasts. I always felt that, in a certain sense, I was carrying the ball for them. It’s been a wonderful run, but I just felt now was the right time to step away, and I’m grateful that NBC left that decision to me.”

Said Tirico, who made his Olympics debut last summer as an NBC daytime host and host of the Closing Ceremony in Rio, “The level and longevity of Bob’s tenure have left an indelible mark on American television and the Olympic Games. I am honored to call him a friend, humbled by this opportunity, and thankful to the many people who have helped make this possible.”

In addition to critically acclaimed Olympic work, Costas has won 27 Emmy Awards — more than any sports broadcaster in history. He is the only broadcaster to have won Emmy Awards in sports, news, and entertainment (for his late-night program Later With Bob Costas). His versatility has been recognized with Emmy Awards or nominations for play-by-play, hosting, interviewing, writing, feature reporting, and commentary. His career is simply one of the most significant in the history of sports broadcasting. His association with NBC will continue with noteworthy roles in NBC Sports and NBC News programs.

“Bob Costas and the Olympics has been one of greatest pairings in sports-broadcasting history, and there isn’t anyone better suited to inherit his mantle than Mike Tirico,” said Jim Bell, president, NBC Olympics Production and Programming. “Mike’s natural gifts as a broadcaster and passion for storytelling are just two reasons he is the perfect choice to host the biggest, most distinguished sports event in the world.”

Tirico, who joined NBC Sports Group in July 2016, has had a whirlwind first seven months with the company. In addition to his role in Rio, he has served as host of Football Night in America, the most-watched studio show in sports, and hosted The Open and The Ryder Cup golf and Breeders’ Cup horse racing. He also handled play-by-play for Sunday Night Football, Thursday Night Football, and Notre Dame football.