Mike Tirico To Replace Bob Costas As Primetime Olympic Host At NBC

The torch has been passed from one Syracuse legend to another with Mike Tirico taking over as the primetime Olympic host with Bob Costas stepping away.

The Olympic hosting duties at NBC Sports are going from one Syracuse sports-casting alum to another.

Long-time primetime Olympic host Bob Costas is passing the torch to Mike Tirico, beginning with the PyeongChang, South Korea, winter games that commence a year from now, NBC Sports announced on Thursday.

Tirico, who graduated from SU in 1988, left ESPN for NBC Sports in July of last year. It’s not all that surprising he is taking over for Costas, who studied at the ‘Cuse until 1974, when he began his professional career.

Around the time that Tirico’s departure from ESPN got announced, many media reports suggested that he would eventually replace Costas as primetime Olympic host. Speculation has also swirled that Tirico, eventually, may take Al Michaels’ slot as the play-by-play voice for Sunday Night Football.

Since joining NBC Sports, Tirico has called several Sunday Night Football and Thursday Night Football contests, while also serving as host of Football Night in America. He also made his Olympic debut last summer at the Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, games as a daytime host, as well as host of the closing ceremony.

Costas has served as primetime host since 1992, and for a U.S.-television record 11 Olympics,

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including the 2012 games in London, which is the most-watched television event in U.S. history, reaching 217 million viewers, according to a NBC Sports press release.

His 37-year run at the network will continue with roles at both NBC Sports and NBC News. Here are some thoughts from the people involved thanks to The Today Show:

"“For a quarter-century, Bob expertly piloted NBC’s primetime coverage of the Olympics,” says Mark Lazarus, the chairman of NBC Broadcasting and Sports. “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.”Says Costas, “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 … I just felt now was the right time to step away and I’m grateful that NBC left that decision to me.”"

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"“The level and longevity of Bob’s tenure have left an indelible mark on American television and the Olympic Games,” Tirico adds. “I am honored to call him a friend, humbled by this opportunity, and thankful to the many people who have helped make this possible.”"

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