Michele Tafoya Reportedly Retiring After The Season Following Rumors About Her Colin Kaepernick Take

Longtime NBC sideline reporter Michele Tafoya may be calling it quits soon.

When fans realized that Tafoya had not been on her usual post on the sidelines during Sunday Night Football for the past couple of weeks, it was rumored that she was put on leave after defending the NFL in the Colin Kaepernick saga during an appearance on “The View”.

See more

New Hot Take Ties Michele Tafoya’s Comments About Colin Kaepernick On “The View” To Her NBC Absence https://t.co/IBubu7sBia

— SideAction (@SideActionHQ) December 15, 2021

NBC was quick to shut down the rumors that Michele Tafoya’s absence had anything to do with the Colin Kaepernick stuff.

“As we’ve done repeatedly, we’re again giving our SNF announcers bye weeks in 2021, and we plan to do it well into the future,” NBC said in a statement.

But now, it’s being reported that Tafoya has plans to step away altogether.

Per The New York Post’s Andrew Marchand:

“This season is expected to be “Sunday Night Football” reporter Michele Tafoya’s final one on the sidelines, The Post has learned.

Sources said it is Tafoya’s decision to step away from the field. She has been on network TV at CBS, ABC/ESPN and NBC for nearly three decades.

NBC declined comment, while Tafoya could not be immediately reached.”

Michele Tafoya has been working as a network reporter for nearly three decades now. And her sudden departure would undoubtedly raise some eyebrows.

It’s still unclear whether Tafoya plans to walk away altogether, or just leave NBC.

Next season, Mike Tirico is set to replace Al Michaels on the Sunday Night Football broadcast. And while no replacement has been mentioned to replace Tafoya, it would appear that fill-in Kathryn Tappen would be the leading candidate.

Michele Tafoya is set to work on this year’s Super Bowl broadcast, which would make for a great last appearance on the sidelines.

---

Welcome to the game outside the game! Follow us on our Sideaction Twitter handle, Instagram, and Facebook for the latest on sports and pop culture news across the web!