Broadcaster Noah Eagle drew attention and divided opinion among viewers for his pronunciation of "Melbourne" during Netflix's broadcast of the NFL's international opener between the Rams and 49ers from Australia. Eagle opted for a pronunciation that mirrored the local Australian cadence, rendering the city's name as "Mel-bin."
Eagle, a veteran broadcaster and son of play-by-play announcer Ian Eagle, was calling the game from Melbourne. His pronunciation quickly became a talking point on social media platforms like X.
Some viewers criticized the decision, with one user writing, "Love Noah Eagle but if he says ‘Melbin’ one more time, so help me God." Another questioned the choice, asking, "Why is Noah Eagle pronouncing Melbourne like he has an Australian accent."
However, others defended Eagle's pronunciation, asserting it was the correct way to say the city's name according to locals. "It’s also the proper way to say it, say the Aussie locals," one viewer commented. "Also, it’s a global audience with the same PxP crew of Noah Eagle & Luke Kuechly for all English speaking viewers." Another user added, "That’s exactly how you pronounce it. Shoutout to Noah Eagle for calling a great game and pronouncing Melbourne correctly throughout the entire broadcast."
The broadcast, which saw the 49ers defeat the Rams 27-7, also featured another notable moment from the booth. Eagle appeared to misidentify 49ers rookie De’Zhaun Stribling as "Daejon," potentially confusing the player with an individual who had allegedly impersonated an NFL player. Additionally, the visual pairing of Eagle with Pro Football Hall of Famer Luke Kuechly, who is significantly taller, generated some lighthearted commentary.