https://decider.com/2021/12/13/michele-tafoya-the-view-absent-sunday-night-football/

Tafoya's absence has fueled speculation that NBC is punishing her for her The View appearance (https://www.thedailybeast.com/nfl-reporter-michele-tafoya-says-bring-it-on-after-the-view-crowd-groans-at-her-kaepernick-take) last month, in which she espoused her staunch conservative views. But Tafoya was on The View (https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/123466-the-view-week-of-1112021/page/2/#comments) Nov. 2 (https://www.lipstickalley.com/threads/the-view-daily-discussion-thread.1809947/page-101) and 3 (https://www.lipstickalley.com/threads/the-view-daily-discussion-thread.1809947/page-102). And her last appearance on Sunday Night Football was three weeks later, on Nov. 25, Thanksgiving night. NBC says Tafoya is taking "bye weeks" (https://twitter.com/AndrewMarchand/status/1470199927422791682) during the season and that she'll return next week.

Michele Tafoya is expected to step down from NBC's Sunday Night Football after this season (https://nypost.com/2021/12/14/michele-tafoya-done-with-sideline-reporting-after-nfl-season/)

Tafoya, whose absence from the last three Sunday Night Football games has raised concerns (https://www.primetimer.com/item/Why-has-Michele-Tafoya-been-missing-from-the-past-three-Sunday-Night-Football-games-1KSm9v), has decided to leave (https://awfulannouncing.com/nbc/michele-tafoya-reportedly-stepping-away-from-sideline-reporting-after-this-season.html) NFL sideline reporting (https://www.reddit.com/r/nfl/comments/rgio0a/ny_post_this_will_be_michele_tafoyas_final_season/), reports the New York Post's Andrew Marchand. Tafoya last appeared on Sunday Night Football on Thanksgiving night, three weeks after a controversial two-day stint on (https://decider.com/2021/11/02/michele-tafoya-wreaks-havoc-the-view/) The View filling in as a conservative voice, in which she made headlines for comparing COVID to the flu. Tafoya has been a sports broadcaster for nearly three decades, on CBS, ABC and NBC.

Michele Tafoya needs to come clean so she should do in-studio sports hosting gig

I dont pay attention to her so I never noticed:lol:

Sunday Night Football may tap Kathryn Tappen to succeed Michele Tafoya (https://nypost.com/2021/12/16/meet-kathryn-tappen-favorite-to-replace-michele-tafoya-on-snf/)

Tappen, a seven-year NBC Sports vet who hosted its NHL coverage and Peacock's Sunday Night Football studio show, has emerged as the favorite if Tafoya departs after this season, as the New York Post reported.

She's getting too old to resume as a sideline reporter.

Michele Tafoya confirms she'll leave NBC Sports after Super Bowl LVI, says she's considering "other areas I would like to explore both personally and professionally" (https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/michele-tafoya-leaves-nbc-sports-nfl-1235072923/)

“Some may consider me crazy to walk away from one of the more coveted roles in sports television, and I do not doubt that I will miss many aspects of the job,” said Tafoya in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. “But for some time, I have been considering other areas I would like to explore both personally and professionally. I couldn’t ignore that little voice anymore after what we have all endured over the last few years.” Sunday's Pittsburgh Steelers-Kansas City Chiefs playoff game will mark her 325th primetime NFL game as a sideline reporter, more than any other reporter.

In a surprise move, NBC taps Melissa Stark to replace Michele Tafoya as sideline reporter on Sunday Night Football (https://nypost.com/2022/04/15/melissa-stark-hired-to-replace-michele-tafoya-on-sunday-night-football/)

Stark, currently at the NFL Network, was the sideline reporter for ABC’s Monday Night Football from 2000 to 2003, before becoming a correspondent for the Today show. Stark's hiring (https://awfulannouncing.com/nbc/melissa-stark-nbc-sunday-night-football-sideline-reporter.html) is surprising because Kathryn Tappen, who worked NBC's Super Bowl LVI in February opposite Tafoya, was considered a shoe-in for the job.

In a surprise move, NBC taps Melissa Stark to replace Michele Tafoya as sideline reporter on Sunday Night Football (https://nypost.com/2022/04/15/melissa-stark-hired-to-replace-michele-tafoya-on-sunday-night-football/)

Stark, currently at the NFL Network, was the sideline reporter for ABC’s Monday Night Football from 2000 to 2003, before becoming a correspondent for the Today show. Stark's hiring (https://awfulannouncing.com/nbc/melissa-stark-nbc-sunday-night-football-sideline-reporter.html) is surprising because Kathryn Tappen, who worked NBC's Super Bowl LVI in February opposite Tafoya, was considered a shoe-in for the job.

NBC officially names Melissa Stark sideline reporter for Sunday Night Football (https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/melissa-stark-joins-sunday-night-football-nbc-1235235233)

“I was sort of just stunned...I didn’t know if I’d ever come back.” Stark says of being asked to return to the sidelines for the NFL's top game of the week after serving in the same capacity on ABC's Monday Night Football from 2000 to 2003. It was Sunday Night Football executive producer Fred Gaudelli, who worked with Stark on MNF, who contacted her out of the blue to pitch the job to her. Stark will join the new Sunday Night Football team (https://awfulannouncing.com/nbc/nbc-officially-announces-sunday-night-football-team-of-mike-tirico-cris-collinsworth-and-melissa-stark.html) of Mike Tirico and Cris Colinsworth this fall.