NFL fans have expressed significant dissatisfaction with NBC's updated rendition of the "Sunday Night Football" theme song, which debuted for the current season. Country music star Carrie Underwood, who has fronted the opening for 14 consecutive seasons, introduced a new, more aggressive, hard-rock arrangement of her hit "Waiting All Day for Sunday Night." The revamped theme is a departure from the familiar tune that has been a staple for over a decade, and it was originally inspired by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts' 1988 song 'I Hate Myself for Loving You.'
Underwood described the new version as part of her "rock star fever dream" and expressed enthusiasm for the updated track, praising the production team for bringing it to life in a way that "captures the spirit of this iconic song and the heart of rock & roll." However, this sentiment was not widely shared by the viewing audience.
Social media platforms were flooded with negative reactions following the theme's premiere. Many fans took to X, formerly Twitter, to voice their discontent. One user described the new version as the "worst version of the SNF theme," lamenting that it lacked the energy of previous iterations and calling it "trash." Another critic likened the sound to "the shriek of a banshee." Concerns were also raised about the audio mixing, with one fan noting that it was difficult to understand Underwood's vocals.
Many viewers bluntly branded the remix "unlistenable" and stated that there was no demand for such a change. The song debuted before the New York Giants' game against the Dallas Cowboys.
In contrast to the criticism of the theme song, a performance of the U.S. national anthem prior to the Giants' season opener received widespread praise. A joint NYPD-FDNY quintet delivered an a cappella rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner" as part of a pregame ceremony honoring the victims of the 9/11 attacks, which had occurred just two days prior. This performance was described by social media users as "gorgeous" and "full body goosebumps."