As the NFL enters Week 12, “Sunday Night Football” on NBC is set to showcase a thrilling clash between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Los Angeles Rams. This matchup will also be particularly significant for Cris Collinsworth, a prominent figure in football broadcasting.
Cris Collinsworth’s Milestone on NBC
In an exciting announcement this week, NBC revealed that Sunday will mark Cris Collinsworth’s 500th career broadcast game. This milestone has left Collinsworth astonished. “That was just stunning to me,” he expressed. “If you’d asked me, I would have said I’d worked maybe 250 or 300 games…Wow, how did that happen?”
Collinsworth’s Broadcast Journey
Throughout his extensive career, Collinsworth has partnered with 13 different play-by-play announcers. His most notable collaboration has been with Al Michaels, where they called a total of 263 games together. Michaels, who now hosts “Thursday Night Football” on Prime Video, reflected on their time together, saying, “I spent 13 years with Cris and loved every moment.” He commended Collinsworth’s humor and understanding of the game.
Mike Tirico will be calling his 96th game with Collinsworth on Sunday. Tirico praised Collinsworth’s intelligence and ability to connect with the audience, stating, “He’s the smartest guy in most every room he’s in, and he never acts like it.” They are on track to cross the 100-game mark later this season.
A Brief Look at Collinsworth’s NFL Career
Before stepping into the broadcasting world, Cris Collinsworth enjoyed an impressive eight-season career as a wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals. He was a three-time Pro Bowler and achieved over 1,000 receiving yards in four of those seasons. Despite his football achievements, Collinsworth initially aspired to pursue law but ultimately followed his passion for football.
The upcoming game not only promises excitement on the field but also celebrates Cris Collinsworth’s remarkable journey in sports broadcasting, highlighting the blend of athletic talent and insightful commentary that he brings to NFL games.
