On Sunday night, NBC’s highly watched Sunday Night Football telecast from Chicago’s Soldier Field did not include a televised rendition of the national anthem. The omission was noticeable to the audience, especially because the game fell during the NFL’s annual Salute To Service campaign and just three days before Veterans Day.
What viewers saw
After the pre‑game studio discussion between analyst Cris Collinsworth and play‑by‑play announcer Noah Eagle, the broadcast cut to a pre‑game interview with Bears quarterback Caleb Williams. The camera then showed an aerial view of the field as flag bearers carried a folded, field‑sized American flag back into a stadium tunnel. No footage of the anthem was shown.
Network response
OutKick reached out to NBC executive vice president of communications Greg Hughes and senior vice president of communications Chris McCloskey for an explanation. As of publication, neither official had responded.
Network spokespersons noted that the decision to air the anthem is a network matter, not a league or club decision. The broadcast did feature the “show anthem” performed by Carrie Underwood and covered the trade of defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons to the Bears.
Previous anthem incidents
This is not the first time a Bears game has seen an unconventional anthem presentation. On September 28, the Bears hosted a mariachi band for an instrumental version of the anthem on ESPN/ABC’s Monday Night Football as part of the team’s Hispanic Heritage Month celebration.
Public reaction
Social‑media users quickly noted the missing anthem, with some expressing disappointment and others speculating that NBC may have wanted to avoid any potential controversy. The network’s silence left many viewers without a clear rationale.
While the omission sparked discussion, the game itself proceeded as scheduled, with the Bears facing the Buccaneers. The broadcast continued with its usual analysis, highlights, and post‑game coverage.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
