Why Jason Garrett replaced Cris Collinsworth for Bengals vs Ravens today; ‘where is he?’

Cris Collinsworth, the former Bengals wideout who marked his 500th career broadcast on NBC’s Sunday Night Football, was not in the booth Thursday

Published on: Nov 28, 2025, 09:13:46 IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

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Cris Collinsworth, the former Bengals wideout who marked his 500th career broadcast on NBC’s Sunday Night Football, was not in the booth for Cincinnati’s Week 13 matchup against the Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on Thanksgiving. His replacement, Jason Garrett, faced intense scrutiny on social media, with fans wondering where the veteran is.

Jason Garrett replaced Cris Collinsworth for the Bengals vs Ravens broadcast (X)

During the closing moments of NBC’s Buccaneers–Rams broadcast, Collinsworth and play-by-play partner Mike Tirico revealed that Jason Garrett will handle color commentary duties in Collinsworth’s place for the holiday game. Collinsworth is slated to rejoin Tirico for NBC’s Sunday broadcast.

“The only thing worse than Collinsworth is when NBC has Jason Garrett on the call,” one fan posted on X, platform formerly known as Twitter.

In discussing Cincinnati’s playoff push, Collinsworth weighed in on the team’s biggest question: Joe Burrow’s status.

“Are they gonna play Joe Burrow?” he said Sunday night, noting that the quarterback has returned to practice and holds significant influence over decisions. Collinsworth added that Ja’Marr Chase “won’t be too happy” about missing time, and suggested the choice becomes even more intriguing if Cincinnati believes it can sweep Baltimore. Still, he cautioned that risking a franchise quarterback would be difficult.

Burrow echoed the urgency earlier in the week, telling reporters on Nov. 25 that the Bengals “pretty much have to win every game” to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Who is Cris Collinsworth?

Cris Collinsworth (born January 27, 1959) is a Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver turned Emmy Award-winning NBC Sunday Night Football color commentator. A three-time Pro Bowler with the Cincinnati Bengals (1981-1988), he caught 417 passes for 6,698 yards and 36 TDs, starring in Super Bowls XVI and XXIII. After retiring, he joined NBC in 1990, then HBO and Fox, before returning to NBC in 2009 alongside Al Michaels and now Mike Tirico.

Known for his detailed preparation, signature “Now here’s a guy…” phrase, and slide-in booth entrances, the 6-foot-5 Collinsworth has called 11 Super Bowls and co-founded Pro Football Focus (PFF).

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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