Chicago is already turning the page to another prime-time moment at Soldier Field. The Bears’ 31–27 stunner over the Green Bay Packers electrified a national audience, and now a Sunday night divisional clash with the Los Angeles Rams awaits. With stakes rising and the spotlight firmly on the Bears, even the pregame details matter. Including who will set the tone before kickoff on January 18, 6:30 p.m. ET.
Who Will Sing the National Anthem at the Rams-Bears Divisional Round Game?
Jim Cornelison will handle national anthem duties ahead of Sunday night’s NFC Divisional Round matchup between the Bears and Rams at Soldier Field. Best known as the longtime anthem singer for the Chicago Blackhawks, Cornelison’s booming, operatic delivery has become a staple at major Chicago sporting events, and the Bears are turning to a familiar voice for a massive postseason moment.
Cornelison confirmed the news himself on Tuesday, posting on X and daring Bears fans to bring even more energy than they did on opening day. “Bears fans… do you think Sunday you will be even louder when we rock the anthem for the @ChicagoBears vs @RamsNFL game? I bet so and I can’t wait!!”
He wrote that while attaching a video clip from a past Bears performance that featured a massive American flag, a roaring crowd reaction, and a military flyover.
THIS WAS THE GREATEST NATIONAL ANTHEM OF ALL TIME.
ABSOLUTE CHILLS WATCHING THIS.
🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸pic.twitter.com/uvIrV17O9s
— MLFootball (@MLFootball) January 18, 2026
This won’t be Cornelison’s first high-stakes appearance at Soldier Field. He has performed the national anthem at numerous Bears games dating back to 2010, including the memorable 2011 NFC Championship Game against the Packers. His ability to command the moment and sync with the crowd has long made his renditions feel like part of the pregame spectacle rather than a formality.
With a primetime kickoff, a packed stadium, and a trip to the NFC Championship Game on the line, the Bears are leaning into tradition. Cornelison’s anthem is expected to set an emotional tone before Caleb Williams, Matthew Stafford, and two playoff-tested teams take the field under the lights in Chicago.
Rams-Bears Preview
LA arrives in Chicago fresh off a narrow escape in Carolina. Stafford threw for 304 yards and 3 touchdowns, delivering late despite briefly exiting with a finger issue that later checked out clean. Still, the tight win raised some flags as the Rams now step into a colder, louder, far more physical environment at Soldier Field.
That matters against a Bears team that has built a reputation for second-half surges and emotional finishes, even if the defense allowed the fourth-most yards during the regular season. Chicago leaned into that identity in the Wild Card Round, when Williams piled up 361 passing yards, nearly 190 of them in the fourth quarter alone. The performance wasn’t flawless with 2 interceptions, but it established one thing: the Bears are comeback merchants.
On paper, it’s a classic strength-on-strength battle. According to PFSN’s NFL Defense Impact Metric, the Rams rank fifth defensively, while the Bears sit 22nd, placing added pressure on Chicago’s offense to control tempo. For Los Angeles, consistency from Stafford, early defensive-line disruption, and containing Williams’ off-script creativity will be essential.
