NBC play-by-play broadcaster Mike Tirico will miss the Week 9 “Sunday Night Football” game with a health issue, he announced in a statement.
“Unfortunately, I will have to miss tonight’s game in Chicago due to a health issue,” Tirico said in his statement, which was released by the network. “I look forward to watching tonight and can’t wait to be back with Cris, Melissa and the rest of our NBC team next Sunday night in Cincinnati.”
Noah Eagle — who serves as the network’s lead college football voice while also calling NBA games — will fill in for Tirico when the Bears host the Buccaneers.
Tirico, who took over as the voice of “Sunday Night Football” for the 2022 season when Al Michaels bolted to Amazon, was set to call his 300th NFL game Sunday.
“There are people that make it to the top, and I mean all the way to the top, that are just kissed by the gods, that just have some talent that the rest of us just don’t have,” Collinsworth told The Athletic of Tirico ahead of the milestone. “I think there are some people that make it to the top because they work like crazy, and there are some people who make it to the top because they have this incredible passion for what they’re doing and it’s not work, it’s a passion. It’s a love of what they do.
“I think every once in a while, you meet somebody who has all of that. It’s incredible to see it.”
Eagle, the son of Ian Eagle who has called NFL games with Netflix, called a thriller Saturday night between Notre Dame and Miami, as the No. 11 Fighting Irish toppled the No. 1-ranked Hurricanes 31-24 to shake up the top of the Associated Press Top 25 rankings yet again.
One night later, his voice will be the soundtrack for a game where the Bears will attempt to win a fourth consecutive game and the Buccaneers will have a chance to win for a fourth time in five games after opening the year 0-4.
The Bengals host the Steelers for the “Sunday Night Football” game in Week 10.
