Tafoya winds down NBC career in postseason

One of best sideline reporters in business, Super Bowl next month will be the end

“In my lifetime, I feel like she’s the best sideline reporter the NFL has ever had.”

Fred Gaudelli, executive producer of “Sunday Night Football, said of Tafoya, pictured

Michele Tafoya, who has become one of the most famous sideline reporters in broadcasting, will work her 325th NFL game on the sideline tonight when the Steelers play the Kansas City Chiefs. If you think that sounds like a lot, it is. No reporter has worked more combined prime-time and playoff games froma sideline than her.

But that isn’t her biggest news of the week. Next month’s Super Bowl will be herlast for NBC.

Tafoya, 57, wouldn’t comment on her plans. But don’t expect her to be covering gamesfor another outlet.

“IfI wanted to stay in sports television, I wouldn’t be leaving,” she said this past Tuesday. “This is about opening a newchapter for me.”

Speculation that she might join ABC’s daytime talk show, “The View,” is sure to rise after she confirmed that her next role will offer an opportunity to share more of her personalopinions.

Tafoyastirred the pot when she was a guest host on the daytime talker last November. Over the course of two days, she pushed back against critical race theory and defendedanti-vaxxers.

On Tuesday, she had nothing but good things to say aboutthat experience.

“Generally, what I took out of that was the opportunity to flex some other muscles,” she said. “I didn’t get to flex them as much as I wanted to. I can probably count the number of minutes I spoke. But I got to talk about other stuff. That wasenjoyable for me.”

Tafoya said her plans don’t include leaving Edina, Minn. —her home base.

“Minnesota is my home,” she said. She moved to Edina in1993 to take a job with KFAN radio:“My kids love it.”

Tafoya joined CBS Sports in2004, which was followed by high-profile roles with ABC, ESPN and NBC. While she covered a wide range of sports, including tennis and the Olympics, she became best known for her sideline work during prime-time football, winning four Emmys in theprocess.

“In my lifetime, I feel like she’sthe best sideline reporter the NFL has ever had,” said Fred Gaudelli, executive producer of NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” who was also atthe news conference.

Even while basking in the national spotlight, Tafoya stayed active in local media appearances. At different times, she had a show on WCCO radio and co-hosted “The Tom Barnard Show” on KQRS, where she frequently shared some of her conservativeand libertarian views.

She spoke fondly Tuesday about her relationship with Vikings personnel, especially

Mike Zimmer, who was fired Monday after a disappointing season.

“I wish Mike Zimmer all the best. He was one of my favorite coaches to talk to at halftime,” she said. “I’m sure he’llget snapped up in a jiffy.”

Covering Vikings games stick out as her personal highlights.

Tafoya said she’ll never forget interviewing short-time Vikings quarterback Brett Favre after he beat his former team, the Green Bay Packers, or surviving the 2016 wildcard playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks at UCF Bank Stadium where temperatures dipped to 6 below. It was the coldest outdoor game theVikings have ever played.

“It’s seared into my memory,” she said. “Or should I sayfrozen?”

Rumors that Tafoya would be leaving NBC have been swirling ever since the New York Post ran a story about it in December 2020. But the networkwas silent about it.

Tafoya said she wanted to avoid a season-long “farewell tour.” She hopes NBC doesn’t make a big production of her departure while she’s workingthrough the Super Bowl.

“I don’t want the game to ever be about me,” she said. “The game is about the game. I’mjust fine with that.”

Tafoya said her plans to leave sports — and a hectic travel schedule -— have been inthe works for several years.

“I’m looking forward to beingable to walk into my house and not have a deadline on doing the laundry and opening the mail, knowing I can spread it out over the next six weeks if I want to,” she said. “I’m a total homebody. I’m going to love being around my kidsand husband.”