Mike Tirico out for Week 9 of 'SNF' due to undisclosed health issue

Mike Tirico. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Mike Tirico out for Week 9 of 'SNF' due to undisclosed health issue

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Nov 8, 2026 3:21 PM ET

NBC play-by-play announcer Mike Tirico would be listed as out for Week 9 if "Sunday Night Football" provided injury reports.

Before the Chicago Bears hosted the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on "SNF," Tirico said he would miss the broadcast because of an undisclosed health issue. Noah Eagle, who calls college football for NBC, will fill in. The 59-year-old broadcaster, who also calls NBA games for the network and hosts its Olympics coverage, clarified it's not a serious condition that will sideline him for multiple weeks.

Mike Tirico releases statement

"Unfortunately, I will have to miss tonight's game in Chicago due to a health issue," Tirico said. "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."

The Cincinnati Bengals will host the Pittsburgh Steelers in an AFC North clash in Week 10. The matchup is set to be the 300th NFL game of Tirico's play-by-play career.

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— NBC Sports PR (@NBCSportsPR) November 8, 2026

"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 the rest some of us don't have," Collinsworth said of Tirico before Sunday's game in Chicago, via The Athletic's Kevin Fishbain. "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."

Clark Dalton

Clark Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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