Announcers Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth have served as the voices of Sunday Night Football since 2022, when Al Michaels joined Prime Video for its Thursday Night Football coverage. However, with NBC covering the Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens Thanksgiving night matchup, Collinsworth is noticeably absent from the booth.
While some may be confused, the former Bengals wide receiver has taken the holiday off for the past couple of years, as he’s slated to call the Washington Commanders and Denver Broncos’ Sunday Night game. In his stead, the network tabbed former Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett to step in; however, fans seemed to push back on his commentary almost instantly.
Fans Flame NBC for Replacing Cris Collinsworth With Jason Garrett
Garrett was an undrafted free agent in 1989 before breaking his way into the league in 1992 with the Cowboys. Following an eight-year stint with the team, he played for a few more franchises before retiring in 2004.
He began his coaching career with his final stop, becoming a quarterbacks coach for the Miami Dolphins in 2005. However, he would head back to Dallas in 2007 to serve as the Cowboys’ offensive coordinator. Soon enough, he would become the head coach in Dallas from 2011 to 2019 after an interim stint in 2010.
Garrett transitioned to a position with NBC Sports, calling United States Football League games before joining NBC’s Football Night in America. He’s now become their No. 2 option behind Collinsworth, filling in for the Thanksgiving game between the Ravens and Bengals.
Fans don’t seem to be thrilled, though, calling the former coach out following less-than-stellar commentating on social media, “Jason Garrett is the absolute worst announcer. I don’t think I’ll make it through this game. @NBCSports #NFL.”
Jason Garrett is the absolute worst announcer. I don’t think I’ll make it through this game. @NBCSports #NFL
— Renllaw (@ArsonRenllaw) November 28, 2025
While Collinsworth has his own criticisms, it seems that people were even less impressed with Garrett, as this fan pointed out, “The only thing worse than Collinsworth is when NBC has Jason Garrett on the call.”
The only thing worse than Collinsworth is when NBC has Jason Garrett on the call
— Randy (@Raaaaaaaandyyy) November 28, 2025
Other fans seemed to insinuate that Garrett’s less-than-stellar commentating was causing a broadcasting veteran like Tirico to struggle, posting, “Every time Jason Garrett is on the mic, you can feel the play-by-play guy struggle to keep the conversation going.”
Every time Jason Garrett is on the mic you can feel the play by play guy struggle to keep the conversation going.
— Wavey Davey (@Davey__Hamilton) November 28, 2025
Another fan pointed to the boring color commentary, likening it to the slumbering effects of the turkey at the table on Thanksgiving, saying, “If the turkey didn’t put you to sleep, then Jason Garrett certainly will.”
If the turkey didn’t put you to sleep then Jason Garrett certainly will
— Jon Benne (@LordBenne) November 28, 2025
However, to be fair to Garrett, the Bengals and Ravens haven’t provided much action with a low-scoring 9-7 first half. According to PFSN’s Offense Impact metric, Baltimore has the 24th-ranked offense in the league.
The former Cowboys coach may not be the most exciting, but these AFC North foes will at least need to provide him with something to stir some emotion.