Fans now have more information as to why a familiar face abruptly left NBC’s set during its coverage of the Kentucky Derby. Veteran broadcaster Mike Tirico, who lives in Ann Arbor, confirmed what was said on the broadcast on Saturday: He had a significant reaction to a nut allergy.

Fans who had tuned into NBC Sports’ coverage of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 3, grew concerned for host Mike Tirico when he suddenly left the broadcast. NBC Sports correspondent Ahmed Fareed took over for Tirico, alongside Carmelo Anthony, sharing only that Tirico started to feel under the weather.

NBC Sports play-by-play commentator Mike Tirico had to leave the network’s coverage of the 2025 Kentucky Derby because of an allergic reaction. Several folks on social media noticed that Mike Tirico was absent for most of the Kentucky Derby broadcast after appearing on the early coverage of the event.