The 4-1 Pittsburgh Steelers are set to visit the 2-4 Cincinnati Bengals on the latest edition of Thursday Night Football. Two veteran quarterbacks, Aaron Rodgers and Joe Flacco, will headline this crucial TNF matchup between fierce divisional rivals in the AFC North.
But before the big game kicks off, the Bengals have a special guest in town who will treat the fans to a country rendition of the national anthem.
Who Will Perform the National Anthem on TNF?
For this week’s game against the Steelers, the Bengals have chosen to bring in country singer and former US Army veteran Craig Morgan to perform “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
Morgan, from Kingston Springs, Tennessee, released his self-titled debut album in 2000 and has been a staple of the old school country music scene ever since.
All eyes on The Jungle. @MillerLite | #PITvsCIN 8:15pm @NFLonPrime pic.twitter.com/yqliSIXQZN
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) October 16, 2025
Alongside his self-titled debut album, Morgan has also released albums titled “I Love It”, “My Kind of Livin’”, and “Little Bit of Life”, to name a few. The artist is also known for hit songs such as “Almost Home”, “Redneck Yacht Club”, and “That’s What I Love About Sunday”, which remained atop the country music charts for four weeks. It is his only song to reach number one on the country charts.
Morgan is quite familiar with performing the national anthem before sporting events, and tonight’s performance before the Steelers vs. Bengals bout will be another addition to the long list.
One of Morgan’s most memorable performances for the NFL came in February 2024, when he sang the national anthem at the NFL’s Pro Bowl in his Army uniform, displaying his strong patriotic sentiment for his country.
Read More: How to Watch Steelers-Bengals Game: TV Channel, Date, Time, More For 2025 Thursday Night Football
Morgan often sings with military bands, and his performances tend to lean heavily on his identity as a soldier-turned-artist. This brings additional emotional weight to his performances, making it clear why he is beloved back home in Tennessee as a country artist and Army veteran.
Fans tuning in can expect a traditional, powerful, country-style rendition rather than a modern remix. Morgan’s anthem performances are typically straightforward and respectful, delivered with a steady country drawl and emotional restraint. Morgan has clearly emphasized honor over theatrics over his years of performing the national anthem.
Morgan is a fitting tone-setter for a rivalry game that already carries playoff-level intensity and high divisional stakes.
The anthem will air live on Amazon Prime Video as part of the Week 7 TNF pregame coverage shortly before kickoff at 8:15 p.m. ET in Cincinnati. Bring a few tissues because Morgan will certainly try to pull on your heartstrings with this rendition.
