Mike Tirico Misses Bucs-Bears Sunday Night Game, Noah Eagle Steps In

NBC's Mike Tirico will miss Sunday night's Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Chicago Bears game because of a health issue. Noah Eagle will take over the broadcast alongside Cris Collinsworth, Deadline reported.

The game is Week 9 of the NFL season, the league's ninth round of regular-season matches. It is part of Sunday Night Football, the weekly evening game that NBC broadcasts. It takes place at Soldier Field in Chicago, with kickoff at 8:20 p.m. ET, or 5:20 p.m. PT.

Tirico announced the absence in a statement issued through NBC. He said he looks forward to watching the Bucs-Bears game from home. He also said he expects to return with Cris, Melissa and the rest of the Sunday Night Football team for the following week's game in Cincinnati.

Tirico has stepped away from live coverage before. In May 2025, he left NBC's Kentucky Derby coverage, the horse race broadcast, because of a serious reaction caused by a nut allergy.

For viewers, the change is simple. The same network, the same slot and the same booth partner remain in place, with Eagle in the chair for one game. Eagle is a play-by-play broadcaster, the person who calls the action as it happens, while Collinsworth provides the analysis.

Tirico's return to Cincinnati is the next date to watch. NBC has not said anything further about his health.