NFL fans tuning into Sunday Night Football to close out their day of NFL television got a bit of a surprise when NBC’s broadcast showed coach-turned-commentator Jason Garrett in the booth to serve as color commentator alongside play-by-play man Mike Tirico.
Tirico's usual partner is Cris Collinsworth, who was taking the night off to spend the rest of Thanksgiving weekend with his family, per Arash Markazi at The Messenger.
Garrett spent 15 years as an NFL coach, mostly with the Cowboys, before joining the NBC broadcast team as a desk analyst, but he's a fill-in rather than a regular figure during game broadcasts.
Fairly or unfairly, fans were very quick to share their disappointment that Garrett was getting the call for the Chargers-Ravens game.
Jason Garrett is in the booth tonight? pic.twitter.com/zgSEHaCHOK
— Clem (@TheClemReport) November 27, 2023
booting up SNF and hearing Jason Garrett is on tonight's call is really making me reconsider my career choices
— alex katson (aquarium enjoyer) 🇯🇵 (@alexkatson) November 27, 2023
Oh god, we have to listen Jason Garrett tonight???
— Steven Haglund (@StevenIHaglund) November 27, 2023
I see Jason Garrett on my screen and just get instantly pissed off.
— Big OJ (@OhhJay_Didit) November 27, 2023
Jason Garrett filling in for Collinsworth? pic.twitter.com/k6Qh3F5kB5
— joey (@JoeyHickmann) November 27, 2023
When I see Jason Garrett is announcing SNF pic.twitter.com/mnBhzBJePo
— PropSwap (@PropSwap) November 27, 2023
Jason Garrett in the booth tonight pic.twitter.com/gSYpa737Da
— Devine Sports Gospel (@DevineGospel) November 27, 2023
While he's clearly walking into a tough crowd, maybe Garrett's performance on the mic on Sunday night can turn some of his haters into new fans.