A week before Veterans Day, NBC’s flagship Sunday Night Football broadcast left the Star‑Spangled Banner off the air, prompting a social‑media stir and questions about network policy.
Key points
- NBC’s decision to skip the national anthem was an editorial choice made by the network, not the NFL.
- The omission occurred during a high‑visibility Salute to Service week and drew immediate attention on social media.
- NBC did not respond to inquiries from the reporting outlet, leaving the rationale for the decision unclear.
During the Sunday Night Football matchup between the Chicago Bears and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Soldier Field, NBC did not air the U.S. national anthem, a notable omission given that the game fell within the NFL’s Salute to Service campaign and just three days before Veterans Day.
The pre‑game segment proceeded with the usual studio introductions, a brief interview with Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, and an aerial shot of flag bearers carrying a folded field‑size American flag into a stadium tunnel, but the anthem itself was never broadcast. NBC did, however, cover the trade of defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons to the Bears and aired a “show anthem” performed by Carrie Underwood later in the telecast.
Broadcast details and missing anthem
OutKick reached out to NBC executive vice president of communications Greg Hughes and senior vice president of communications Chris McCloskey for an explanation; neither had responded at the time of reporting. According to the source, the decision to air—or not air—the anthem rests with the network, not the NFL, indicating an editorial choice by NBC.
Social‑media users quickly noted the absence, with some expressing disappointment and others speculating that NBC may have sought to avoid controversy surrounding anthem protests. The reaction was mixed, reflecting the broader national debate over anthem performances at sporting events.
NBC’s response and network responsibility
This is not the first anthem‑related irregularity involving the Bears this season. Earlier, ESPN/ABC’s Monday Night Football featured a mariachi rendition of the anthem for the Bears’ Hispanic Heritage Month celebration, and a prior Bears game also saw the anthem mis‑step noted by observers.
While NBC has not publicly addressed the omission, the incident underscores how network decisions can intersect with patriotic observances and the heightened scrutiny surrounding anthem broadcasts during the NFL’s Salute to Service week.
Reader questions
Why did NBC not broadcast the national anthem before the Bears‑Buccaneers game?
NBC has not provided an official explanation; the source indicates the decision was made at the network level, possibly to avoid controversy.
What did NBC show instead of the anthem?
The broadcast included a pre‑game interview with Caleb Williams, flag‑bearer footage, coverage of a player trade, and a performance by Carrie Underwood later in the program.
Has NBC omitted the anthem in other NFL games this season?
The source notes previous anthem‑related incidents involving the Bears, including a mariachi rendition on Monday Night Football, but does not confirm other NBC omissions.
Source: foxnews.com
