Longtime NBC Sports personality Mike Tirico created concern among fans over the weekend with the sudden announcement that he would not be in the booth for his weekly NFL game.
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Tirico, the lead voice on Sunday Night Football, did not call the Chicago Bears against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
"Unfortunately, I will have to miss tonight's game in Chicago due to a health issue," Tirico said in a statement, which NBC released.
"I look forward to watching tonight and can't wait to be back with Cris (Collinsworth), Melissa (Stark) and the rest of our SNF team next Sunday night in Cincinnati."
Sending our best to NBC Sports' Mike Tirico, who will miss calling tonight's Bucs vs Bears game in Chicago due to a health related issue. He would have called his 300th NFL game.
Get better soon Mike! 🙏🏾🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/gh4qJOPXvs
— First and Pen (@firstandpen) November 8, 2026
Noah Eagle replaced Tirico in the booth alongside Collinsworth. He did play-by-play as the Bears defeated the Buccaneers 27-24. Eagle is the lead voice of college football for NBC Sports.
Noah Eagle, filling in for Mike Tirico, opens Sunday Night Football alongside Cris Collinsworth. pic.twitter.com/gPXWX0q836
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) November 9, 2026
This game in the Windy City was set to be a milestone moment in Tirico's long broadcasting career. This would have been his 300th football broadcast.
Now, however, the expectation is that he will hit this milestone number next Sunday when the Cincinnati Bengals host the rival Pittsburgh Steelers.
Tirico kicked off this journey to 300 games 20 years ago while working for ESPN. He joined the Monday Night Football team and served as a pivotal member of the booth.
His career took him to NBC Sports in July 2016. He didn't initially begin calling NFL games for NBC Sports due to Al Michaels being the lead play-by-play man at the network, so he focused on the Olympics and hosting Football Night in America. Though he filled in at times in the booth for Michaels.
Tirico also served as the lead voice for the NBA when NBC Sports reacquired the broadcast rights.
Tirico permanently replaced Michaels on Thursday Night Football in 2017, and he then expanded the schedule with Michaels leaving Sunday Night Football after the 2021 season. Michaels moved to Prime Video to call Thursday Night Football starting in 2022.
