We knew the Chicago Bears’ matchup with the Carolina Panthers on Thursday Night Football would be an atrocious rock fight. Even with some weird draft incentives for the Bears, no rational football-loving mind saw this game on paper and thought it was a burgeoning classic.
Apparently, the folks who work and produce TNF thought the same thing! So they prepared accordingly. Instead of keeping full attention on a game featuring Tyson Bagent and Bryce Young — a disappointing No. 1 overall pick — the broadcast brought in Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce into the booth.
Why, you might ask?
Well, for no discernible reason other than that Kelce is a magnetic personality, and this was one of the obvious worst TNF games on paper all year. No one, not even the announcers, really wanted to watch this matchup closely. The gambit with Kelce — easily more interesting by himself than two of the NFL’s worst teams on the field — clearly worked with an overjoyed Al Michaels. Any criticism of the announcer lacking enthusiasm seemingly faded the moment he got to talk to Kelce:
Al Michaels: I saw Kelce one of the finalists for sexiest man. I thought it was — you know who I thought it was?
Jason Kelce: Me pic.twitter.com/peS24sgw6D
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) November 10, 2023
Who could possibly blame Michaels for perking up once Kelce sat next to him? He seems like such a fun guy with a lot of energy. Now imagine talking to Kelce instead of devoting your energy to a horrid football game. It’d be a no-brainer every time.