Kirk Herbstreit has become part of the conversation after Thursday Night Football, and it is not for the reasons a broadcaster would want.

Fans tuning in to watch the New England Patriots and Chicago Bears had plenty to say about his commentary, from his analysis of the game to how much time he spent talking.

Some viewers want sharper football insights, while others feel Herbstreit gets sidetracked from the action.

NFL Fans Criticize Kirk Herbstreit’s Thursday Night Football Commentary

Herbstreit, who built his reputation through years of college football coverage on ESPN’s “College GameDay,” has faced criticism during the 2026 NFL season while working alongside play-by-play announcer Al Michaels.

Following the New England Patriots’ 30-24 loss to the Chicago Bears, viewers took to X to criticize his delivery, analysis, and choice of talking points.

Sports Illustrated senior writer Conor Orr raised a concern about Herbstreit’s pregame preparation in his X post. He criticized the broadcaster for recounting a conversation with Pat McAfee about whether the matchup could serve as a Super Bowl preview, rather than sharing insights from his access to coaches and players.

Orr wrote, “Tell me what they said!” He argued that Herbstreit has opportunities to gather information directly from people involved in the game and should use that access to offer viewers more meaningful reporting.

One fan took aim at Herbstreit’s public persona, writing, “Herbie being Herbie just phoney as hell. But he has a DOG!!!”

The comment sarcastically referenced Herbstreit’s well-known affection for his dogs, which became part of his public persona after his late golden retriever Ben frequently accompanied him on the road.

Other complaints focused on what fans believed was a lack of attention to the game itself. One viewer wrote, “Gonna start talking about Diary of a Polarizing Figure on the next drive,” indicating at McAfee’s music album.

This frustration also extended to his assessment of Chicago’s defense.Another fan posted, “He’s a brutal listen. Also, acting the Bears’ defense were the steel curtain was telling.”

The comparison to Pittsburgh’s legendary 1970s defense reflected the viewer’s belief that Herbstreit had overstated the Bears’ defensive performance.

The criticism was not limited to his analysis of individual plays. During the broadcast, Herbstreit also faced scrutiny after questioning whether Bears kicker Cairo Santos was attempting a pooch punt on a standard field-goal try.

His comments about analytics during a fourth-down decision earlier in a game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Denver Broncos have also drawn criticism from viewers. They believe broadcasters should better explain the reasoning behind such calls.

Another brief reaction captured the skepticism about the potential Super Bowl comparison. “Uh, no. That’s laughable.”

Another viewer offered a broader complaint about the broadcast, writing, “He talks WAY too much.”

Herbstreit has previously argued that negativity on social media can create its own narrative. However, the latest reactions show that some viewers want more focused analysis and stronger reporting from the Thursday Night Football booth.