Thursday Night Football commentator Kirk Herbstreit has agreed to a contract extension with Amazon Prime Video, according to The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand.
The reported agreement does come with a major caveat: Amazon maintains flexibility to pivot to another top candidate, such as Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay, should they become available, sources told The Athletic.
The Daily Mail has sought comment from both Amazon Prime spokespeople and Herbstreit’s representatives, as well as Herbstreit himself.
Herbstreit was a quarterback at Ohio State until graduating in 1993 and later joined ESPN’s college football coverage in 1995 en route to an analyst role on the network’s famed College GameDay broadcasts. He also serves as the lead analyst for ESPN and ABC, making him one of the biggest voices in college football.
But after dipping his toe into the NFL waters at the 2018 draft and doing some Monday Night Football duties in 2020, Herbstreit was announced as the lead color commentator for Prime Video’s Thursday Night Football in 2022. Alongside legendary play-by-play announcer, Al Michaels, Herbstreit has helped TNF surge in the ratings following years of criticism.
In 2025 alone, Prime Video enjoyed a 16-percent increase in viewership over the previous season, according to the streaming giant.
Thursday Night Football commentator Kirk Herbstreit (seen here with his dog, Peter) has agreed to a contract extension with Amazon Prime Video, according to The Athletic
Alongside play-by-play announcer, Al Michaels, Herbstreit helped TNF surge in the ratings
Exact details about Herbstreit’s new deal with Amazon Prime have not been revealed, but according to Marchand, it is believed to be an eight-figure contract. Furthermore, the 57-year-old Herbstreit’s new deal is shorter than his previous three-year pact, according to Marchand.
Herbstreit’s deal with ESPN is also set to expire, according to Marchand, who was told by a source that the network will address his contract after the college football season.
Prime Video was once very high on McVay, whom they offered around $20 million a year to defect to the broadcast booth, according to Marchand. He instead chose to re-sign with the Rams, while Herbstreit went with Prime Video.
In addition to his football commentary, Herbstreit is also known for his golden retriever, Peter, who frequently travels with the former Buckeyes star aboard a private jet and is often seen at games.
