Mike Tirico Details Extreme Allergic Reaction To Nuts That Forced Him Off Of Kentucky Derby Broadcast

Mike Tirico (Image: NBC)

NBC broadcaster Mike Tirico abruptly left the set of the 151st Kentucky Derby on Saturday afternoon. Through a post on X, Tirico revealed that a “significant reaction” to a nut allergy forced him off the call.

Tirico was feeling “under the weather” following the incident on Saturday and was taken off the call.

On NBC’s Today, Tirico spoke about the details of what exactly happened at Churchill Downs.

“I ate something that had a nut in it and had a nut allergy, causing [my] throat and nose and all that stuff to kind of clog up and swell,” Tirico said. “It affects your breathing a little bit, so wasn’t feeling well, couldn’t go on with the show, took an EpiPen shot, got treated by EMTs, felt better.”

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Tirico was replaced by Ahmed Fareed, who finished the rest of the broadcast in his place.

Tirico, 58, has been the voice behind the Kentucky Derby since 2017. He’s also known for calling NBC’s Sunday Night Football along with Chris Collinsworth.

Sovereignty won the Kentucky Derby with a time of 2:02.31. Sovereignty entered the race at 7-1 odds and finished ahead of the pre-race favorite, Journalism.