Mike Tirico will sit out Sunday Night Football to deal with a “health issue” as Noah Eagle teams up with Cris Collinsworth.

The Sunday slate of action in Week 9 will be capped off by the clash between the Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Soldier Field. However, while he is deemed by many to be the voice of Sunday Night Football on NBC, Tirico will not be on the call.

During the early window of games, Tirico confirmed his absence from the upcoming prime time slot. He released a statement shared by NBC, which read: “Unfortunately, I will have to miss tonight’s game in Chicago due to a health issue.

“I look forward to watching tonight and can’t wait to be back with Cris, Melissa and the rest of our SNF team next Sunday night in Cincinnati.”

It seems Tirico is hopeful that his “health issue” is not going to slow him down long-term. He is eyeing a return to his rightful spot in the booth for next Sunday, when the Cincinnati Bengals - who won in Madrid - welcome the Pittsburgh Steelers to Paycor Stadium for an AFC North showdown.

Tirico’s news does mean Collinsworth will have a new partner. The pair have been working together as the full-time broadcast duo for NBC Sunday Night Football since 2022, after Tirico took over the lead play-by-play role from Al Michaels.

Eagle will step into the booth opposite long-time color man Collinsworth. It will mark his Sunday Night Football debut, but he has been on the call for other marquee games and matchups.

Eagle has called select NBC and Peacock NFL games since 2023, including a late-season Steelers–Bengals matchup and the NFL's first-ever game in Brazil in 2024. He served as the play-by-play voice for NBC's Saturday Wild Card playoff game between the Browns and Texans in January 2024.

However, the 29-year-old will take the reins of Sunday Night Football for the first time in his young career. He will team up with both Collinsworth and sideline reporter Melissa Stark for the occasion, who are regulars in the slot.

Eagle was already in the Midwest area after calling the Miami clash with Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, on Saturday night. Eagle is already NBC Sports' lead college football voice and its primary backup NFL play-by-play announcer, so a combination of geographic convenience and his role on the network’s depth chart led to him stepping in for Tirico.

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