Veteran NFL broadcast Al Michaels was clearly emotional as he paid a heartfelt tribute to Dan Hicks following the NBC broadcaster’s shock death at the age of 64. Hicks died on Wednesday, his family announced, after battling an acute illness. An exact cause of death has not been revealed.The Tucson, Arizona, native was best known for calling the action at the Olympics, on the PGA Tour and at Notre Dame football games. He also worked NFL games for NBC between 1992 and 1998.As Amazon Prime’s broadcast of the Thursday Night Football game between the New York Giants and Washington Commanders went to a commercial break, Michaels took a moment to pay tribute to Hicks. ‘All of us in the sports broadcasting business were shocked to learn this morning of the passing of Dan Hicks,’ the 82-year-old said.’He provided captions to so many iconic moments in golf, tennis and Notre Dame football and he and Rowdy Gaines turned the calling of swimming at multiple Olympics into an art form. Al Michaels was clearly emotional as he paid tribute to Dan Hicks following his shock death Hicks, pictured with wife Hannah Storm, died on Wednesday after battling an acute illness’He was genial, he was compassionate, great company, had a world class sense of humor and on this rough day for so many of us, we send our love to Hannah and your three daughters. Wishing you strength and comfort.’Michaels’s voice was clearly starting to break towards the end of his tribute as his emotions got the better of him. Hicks’s wife, ESPN anchor Hannah Storm, shared a statement on behalf of herself and their three daughters: Hannah, Ellery and Riley.’Our family is heartbroken by the sudden and unexpected passing of Dan following an acute illness,’ Storm said in a statement Thursday. ‘He was a devoted husband of over 30 years, loving father to our three daughters, and cherished friend to so many. His loss is immeasurable.’Dan was truly one of a kind and, quite simply, the person everyone wanted to be around. When he walked into a room, he brought the energy, the laughter and the people together. He was endlessly kind, thoughtful and funny, and he made everyone feel like they mattered.’Our three daughters and I are heartbroken. We are grateful for the love and support surrounding our family during this incredibly difficult time. There are simply no words to express how much he will be missed.’Mike Tirico, who calls Sunday Night Football games for NBC but missed last week’s game due to illness, paid his own tribute to Hicks on Thursday and called him a ‘broadcaster’s broadcaster.’Speaking on Golf Channel, he said: ‘He had more big moments on his plate, and nailed every big moment. You can’t think of a big moment that Dan didn’t have the right call, the right energy, the right words.’Think about every Michael Phelps gold medal won in Olympic swimming, and Dan doing that. Think about all the big moments on the hill with all the great U.S. ski athletes at the Olympic Games, and Dan was the voice.’Hicks’ biggest moments on the mic included the US swim team’s comeback at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and Tiger Woods’ dramatic putt to force a playoff at the 2008 US Open. NBC Sports executives Rick Cordella, Sam Flood and Molly Solomon responded to the tragedy with their own statement on Hicks’ impact. Mike Tirico also paid an emotional tribute to his NBC colleague Hicks after his shock death Tiger Woods (right) is interviewed by NBC’s Dan Hicks (left) after winning the TOUR Championship on September 23, 2018, at the East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta’Dan Hicks was an extraordinary colleague, friend and person,’ the statement began. ‘In his 34 years at NBC Sports, he was an exceptional storyteller and caller of games and events who elevated some of the biggest moments in sports history. ‘From Olympic swimming and skiing to Notre Dame football, numerous other high profile events and especially as the signature voice of our golf coverage for the last 26 years, Dan’s blend of knowledge, style, enthusiasm and humor informed and entertained fans for decades.’But far beyond his on-air excellence, Dan was a better person who welcomed teammates with a smile, a joke, or a word of encouragement, sometimes all three in the same sentence.’Our heartfelt condolences and love to his wife Hannah and his daughters Hannah, Ellery and Riley.’