Sports
Inside Look at Al Michaels’ Flight Experience for Thursday Night Football
Week 12 of Thursday Night Football promises an intriguing matchup as the Cleveland Browns face off against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Although the Browns stand at a modest record of 2-8, contrasting the Steelers’ strong 8-2 start, another facet of the game has piqued significant interest. Ryan Fitzpatrick, former quarterback and now football analyst, will travel to Cleveland aboard sports broadcaster Al Michaels‘ private jet, colloquially known as ‘Al Force One‘.
Fitzpatrick recently shared his anticipation and curiosity about the flight experience on ‘Fitz & Whit’, a podcast he co-hosts. On a recent episode, his colleague offered insights into the peculiarities of Michaels’ jet. Whitworth, another analyst, highlighted a particular rule: to avoid interrupting Michaels during his pre-game preparations. Furthermore, guests are advised against utilizing the restroom after multiple cups of coffee, and one must respect seat assignments, particularly that of Charissa Thompson, a fellow analyst.
Whitworth painted a vivid picture of the in-flight dining experience, noting the abundance of candy corn available. «There’s more likely there will be buckets of candy corn,» Whitworth explained. «Probably all kinds of chocolates and candies. Fruit plates. Usually, some kind of deli plate. The food is typically healthier on the way there than on the way back. On return flights, we usually have fried chicken and pizza, depending on the location.»
Al Michaels’ ownership of a private jet is no secret among sports circles. According to Andrew Marchand, a media journalist, Michaels has enjoyed this luxury since at least 2000, when he called Monday Night Football for ABC. His transition in 2006 to NBC‘s Sunday Night Football alongside John Madden only reinforced its necessity. When Amazon recruited Michaels for Thursday Night Football on Prime Video, his private travel arrangements evidently remained a stipulation. Colleagues like Fitzpatrick potentially reap the benefits of such arrangements, as long as they navigate the quirky ambiance aboard.