NFL Fans Loved 'Incredible' Saxophone National Anthem Before Bears-Lions
11/28/2024 12:47 PM
As a holiday, Thanksgiving blends the American customs of food and football. The annual NFL games on the final Thursday in November are an enduring tradition.
As always, the first game of today's Thanksgiving tripleheader is in Detroit, where the 10-1 Lions are hosting the 4-7 Chicago Bears in an NFC North showdown. Prior to kickoff, fans at Ford Field were treated to an epic version of the national anthem.
Saxophonist Mike Phillips, the first musician ever signed to Jordan Brand, performed an incredible rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner" on the sax, wowing the crowd with his soulful version of the patriotic tune.
This saxophone rendition of the National Anthem World from Mike Phillips is INCREDIBLE. 🎷
— NFL (@NFL) November 28, 2024
📺: #CHIvsDET on CBS/Paramount+
📱: Stream on #NFLPluspic.twitter.com/qeTkQjLThS
It wasn't just the people in the building who enjoyed Phillips' anthem. Those watching at home were also impressed
"Saxophone setting the tone for Thanksgiving football. Who needs turkey when you've got vibes like this?" one person wrote on X/Twitter.
"So good…got a little teary eyed," a second person said.
"Thanksgiving blessing being said in the kitchen with Bears-Lions national anthem playing in the background was a great moment in American history," said college football analyst Josh Pate.
"Mike Phillips just delivered one of the most beautiful and incredible performances of the National Anthem you will ever hear!" added Mavs podcaster/host Kevin Gray Jr.
"We've been so damaged with horrendous national anthems at nationally televised sporting events, gotta appreciate the great ones sometimes. Shoutout, @m_dot_philly," chimed in Ahaan Rungta of Parlay Science and Roto Underwold.
Phillips has also played three NFL halftime shows and performed the national anthem before the 2016 NFC Championship Game.
"I was offstage, listening to Michael Phillips take his solo. I was thinking 'Wow, listen to those people responding, and all he's doing is playing a saxophone,'" legendary musician Prince once said. "They can feel that what he's doing is real. So many shows now…they are so dead. But here's one man breathing into an instrument, and the whole room feels alive. It made me want to rise up to that level when I came back onstage."
You can watch Bears-Lions on CBS.
Related: Two Key Lions Players Upgraded To Limited On Tuesday's Report
