Mike Pereira’s Journey Through Pain and Recovery
In the depths of despair, when the most troubling thoughts clouded his mind, Mike Pereira faced a crossroads: should he surrender to the overwhelming pain? For years, he battled relentless back pain that defied every remedy he tried — from yoga to pilates and an array of pain management strategies recommended by his doctors. A simple act, such as stepping out of bed each morning, turned into a torturous struggle.
Pereira, a seasoned NFL sideline judge and former vice president of league officiating, transitioned into a groundbreaking role as the first rules analyst for NFL broadcasts when Fox Sports brought him on board in 2010. However, last year, at the age of 73, he found himself grappling with intense agony that led to dark thoughts of despair. He candidly shared that he had moments where he contemplated suicide. “I had never experienced anything like the pain I had,” Pereira recalled. “I almost gave up. I mean, I almost gave up on life as I knew it. I became such a burden to anybody around me and was in so much pain that I lay in my bed questioning, ‘Is it really worth this?’ I never considered myself someone who would contemplate such things. But when you’re in that much pain, those thoughts can creep into your mind, and you have to fight them off.”
After missing the entire 2023 NFL season, Pereira made a triumphant return to television with Fox, ready to take on a full slate of college football and NFL games. This resurgence followed a successful spinal surgery in November at a San Francisco medical center, an extensive 8 1/2-hour procedure that involved fusing seven levels of his spinal vertebrae. The recovery process was no easy feat; he spent a week in the hospital and another week at a rehabilitation facility in Sacramento, California.
Initially, despite being told the surgery was a success, Pereira felt far from it. He struggled with sleepless nights, limited movement, and fluctuating blood pressure that hindered his attempts to rise from his hospital bed. Eventually, he progressed to a wheelchair and then to a walker. “I felt a sense of accomplishment over the simplest things,” he reflected. “When you’ve been that low and then you achieve something you couldn’t do before, it changes your perspective.”
As his healing journey continued, Pereira was eventually strong enough to attend the NFC Championship Game in San Francisco that January. He surprised Fox’s leading NFL crew during a production meeting at their hotel, and was deeply moved by the outpouring of support from his colleagues, who jumped to their feet in excitement upon seeing him. “The sincere and genuine love that I felt at that moment was overwhelming,” Pereira expressed. “That moment convinced me I was coming back to work.”
Pereira’s top executives at Fox Sports — CEO Eric Shanks and executive producer Brad Zager — inquired before the season about his travel preferences. He decided on an ambitious schedule, opting to cover eight or nine regular-season games on the road, alternating with fellow rules analyst Dean Blandino. Meanwhile, he would work from Fox’s Century City studios for the remainder of the season. His travels have already taken him to Cleveland for Week 1 and to Dallas in the following week. This week, he plans to work from Los Angeles, where he will cover a college game on Friday night, nine college games on Saturday, and four NFL games on Sunday.
“I’m now almost 10 1/2 months post-surgery, and I can walk 2 miles a day,” Pereira shared proudly. “I can do nearly everything I could do before, except I still can’t put on shoes by myself. I’ve been pestering Howie Long to send me some Skechers, but he hasn’t come through yet (laughs). Nonetheless, I don’t worry about the small issues because I have my life back. It was taken from me, and now I have reclaimed it.”
In today’s sports broadcasting landscape, rules analysts have become a common feature, but Pereira was a trailblazer when Fox introduced the role for him in 2010. Fans had longed for accurate explanations of the NFL’s complex rulebook, and Pereira took on that essential responsibility, alleviating the burden on announcers. Joe Buck once remarked that he considered Pereira the best hire in Fox Sports history. Pereira himself never imagined that his hiring would pave the way for the multitude of rules analysts we see across various sports today. “It’s wonderment because I never saw this job coming,” Pereira admitted. “I never thought that when it was time to retire from the NFL, I would have such an opportunity available to me. I take pride in the fact that I’m helping educate fans, and I’m also proud to see rules analysts in soccer, the NBA, and even golf. Fox started it, and I’m glad I was able to play a part in it.”
Engaging with Pereira these days provides a sobering perspective on life and mortality. He now feels revitalized, experiencing minimal pain and no longer needing pain relievers. Remarkably, he has even gained 2 inches in height as a result of his surgery. “There are still things I can’t do, but I’m living my absolute best life at home and at work,” Pereira stated. “Some might say that, but given my appreciation for where I’ve been, I truly believe I’m living my best life today.”
If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741.
(Top photo of Mike Pereira on the field before last week’s Baltimore Ravens-Dallas Cowboys game: Sam Hodde / Getty Images)