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Mike Tirico to miss Bears-Buccaneers broadcast over health issue
Developed over time first seen 1 day ago
NBC play-by-play broadcaster Mike Tirico will miss the Bears-Buccaneers “Sunday Night Football” broadcast because of a health issue, he said in a statement. Noah Eagle will take his place as Chicago hosts Tampa Bay, while Tirico said he hopes to return for next Sunday’s game in Cincinnati.
The broadcast was due to be Tirico’s 300th NFL game; he became the voice of “Sunday Night Football” in 2022. Eagle, who also calls college football and NBA games, was coming off Notre Dame’s 31-24 win over top-ranked Miami. The Bears were seeking a fourth straight win, while the Buccaneers aimed for their fourth victory in five games after starting the season 0-4.
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In short
- Mike Tirico is missing the broadcast because of a health issue.
- Noah Eagle will call Bears-Buccaneers in his place.
- Tirico was set to call his 300th NFL game.
How this story developed
- 17 hours ago Tirico announced he would miss the broadcast, while the teams entered the game with Chicago pursuing a fourth straight win and Tampa Bay seeking its fourth victory in five games.
- 23 hours ago NBC confirmed Tirico’s absence for Week 9, where he had been due to call his 300th NFL game, and named Eagle as his replacement after Eagle’s call of Notre Dame’s win over Miami.
- 23 hours ago NBC commentator Mike Tirico said a health issue would keep him from calling the Bears-Buccaneers game on Sunday night, with Noah Eagle stepping in and Tirico hoping to return for the following week’s Cincinnati broadcast.
Full account
NBC’s Mike Tirico will miss the Week 9 Sunday Night Football broadcast from Chicago after announcing that he has a health issue. In a statement released by the network, he said he was sorry to miss the game and hoped to return the following Sunday, when NBC’s crew is due in Cincinnati. He did not provide further details about his condition.
Noah Eagle will take Tirico’s place for the game between the Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Eagle, who calls college football and NBA games for NBC, had been on the call the previous night for Notre Dame’s 31–24 win over top-ranked Miami. The Bears entered Sunday looking to extend their winning run to four games; Tampa Bay aimed for a fourth win in five outings after starting the season 0–4.
The absence comes on a milestone occasion: Tirico was scheduled to call his 300th NFL game. He became the voice of Sunday Night Football in 2022, following Al Michaels’s move to Amazon. Ahead of the milestone, colleague Cris Collinsworth praised Tirico’s talent, work ethic and enthusiasm for the job.
One report also recalled Tirico’s departure from NBC’s Kentucky Derby coverage in May 2025 after what the network described as a significant reaction linked to his nut allergy. The reports do not say whether that earlier incident is connected to his current health issue. Sunday’s game was scheduled to kick off at 8.20pm Eastern time at Soldier Field; NBC’s Week 10 Sunday night broadcast is scheduled to feature the Bengals hosting the Steelers.
Where outlets differ
From the full account, which is AI-written from the sources:
The first report focuses on Tirico’s 300th NFL game milestone, Collinsworth’s praise and the teams’ recent form. The second describes Tirico as recovering from an illness and adds context about his 2025 Kentucky Derby departure, but does not establish that the two health events are related.
The first report says Tirico expects to return with NBC’s team next Sunday in Cincinnati; the second gives the same expected return but calls the group the Sunday Night Football team. Neither report supplies a diagnosis for the current health issue.
Explained simply
Sunday Night Football is NBC’s weekly nationally televised NFL game, featuring two teams from the league’s 32-club competition. The play-by-play broadcaster describes the action as it unfolds, working alongside an analyst who explains tactics and decisions.
Mike Tirico has been the programme’s lead play-by-play broadcaster since 2022. Noah Eagle, who also covers college football and NBA games, is taking his place for the Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers matchup.
The Bears and Buccaneers are both seeking to build on recent wins, making the game part of their efforts to improve their standing during the season. Tirico’s planned return would depend on his recovery from the health issue.
Coverage · 2 sources
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Originally published by New York Post as “NBC’s Mike Tirico reveals ‘health issue’ as he’ll miss Bears-Buccaneers ‘Sunday Night Football’ broadcast”.