NBC play-by-play announcer Mike Tirico will miss the Week 9 Sunday Night Football
matchup between the Chicago Bears and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Soldier Field due to a health issue.
Tirico Misses 300th Broadcast
Sunday’s primetime contest in Chicago was scheduled to mark Tirico’s 300th NFL broadcast. His journey in the booth began 20 years ago on Monday Night Football
. He has served as the lead play-by-play voice for NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” since 2022, when he replaced Al Michaels. Mike Tirico, 59, did not specify the medical concern forcing him to step aside for the evening, according to Fox News.
In addition to his football role, Tirico is the primary host of the Olympics on NBC and serves as the lead voice of the network’s NBA coverage.
Unfortunately, I will have to miss tonight’s game in Chicago due to a health issue.
NBC Sports released the statement on Sunday afternoon. Tirico added that he plans to watch the action from home before rejoining the crew next week.
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I look forward to watching tonight and can’t wait to be back with Cris, Melissa and the rest of our ‘SNF’ team next Sunday night in Cincinnati.
Eagle Steps in at Soldier Field
Noah Eagle will replace Tirico in the booth alongside color commentator Cris Collinsworth and sideline reporter Melissa Stark, according to Sports Media Watch. Eagle serves as NBC’s lead college football voice and previously called a Saturday primetime game in South Bend, Indiana, where the No. 11 Fighting Irish defeated the No. 1-ranked Miami Hurricanes 31-24.
The Mirror US noted that Eagle also handled NFL assignments, including a Week 1 matchup between the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers in Australia that streamed on Netflix. Eagle was additionally designated as the backup voice for the Super Bowl in case Tirico could not perform his duties.
Broadcaster Plans Cincinnati Return
Tirico’s expected absence is limited to this single NFL matchup. The New York Post reported that the broadcaster intends to resume his normal duties when the Cincinnati Bengals host the Pittsburgh Steelers.
