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NFL Fans Loved Smooth Saxophone Rendition of National Anthem to Kick Off Thanksgiving Slate
The NFL's Thanksgiving Day slate of games got off to a rousing start on Thursday.
Before the Detroit Lions hosted the Chicago Bears to open the day of NFL action, saxophonist Mike Phillips gave one of the best renditions of the national anthem you will ever hear. It was soulful, passionate and the NFL world loved it.
This saxophone rendition of the National Anthem World from Mike Phillips is INCREDIBLE. 🎷
— NFL (@NFL) November 28, 2024
📺: #CHIvsDET on CBS/Paramount+
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/qeTkQjLThS
That was incredible and immediately had people suggesting it should be the go-to form of national anthem moving forward.
The saxophone is by far and away my favorite version of the national anthem
— Madelyn Burke (@MadelynBurke) November 28, 2024
No more singers; only saxophones https://t.co/Owz4iolfRN
— Alex Hickey (@bigahickey) November 28, 2024
A saxophone anthem pic.twitter.com/zIUlst99p8
— lindsey ok (@lindseyyok) November 28, 2024
I’d be down for a saxophone national anthem for every game. This rules
— Nick Perkins (@NickyPerkss) November 28, 2024
This saxophone rendition of national anthem one of the best I've ever heard for a football game no exaggerating
— Phil Liquor, American (@phil_so_silly) November 28, 2024
You mean to tell me they could have been doing the national anthem on a saxophone this whole time?
— Ryan Garvin (@RyanMacGarvin) November 28, 2024
Sign me up for more saxophone national anthems.
— Shane Bacon (@shanebacon) November 28, 2024
we need a saxophone to play the national anthem at every game from here on out
— Ficky (@itsfickybaby) November 28, 2024
Sounds pretty unanimous; looks like Roger Goodell and the NFL need to start making some calls.
The Lions are hosting the Bears in an NFL North matchup of two rivals in completely different places. Detroit is 10-1 and is a serious Super Bowl contender, while the Bears are 4-7 and limping along with a rookie quarterback and a head coach on the hot seat.
On paper, it shouldn't be close. No matter what happens, at least we were treated to a banger of a national anthem to open things.
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Ryan Phillips is a senior writer on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. He has worked in digital media since 2009, spending eight years at The Big Lead before joining SI in 2024. Phillips also co-hosts The Assembly Call Podcast about Indiana Hoosiers basketball and previously worked at Bleacher Report. He is a proud San Diego native and a graduate of Indiana University’s journalism program.