McCready’s Hendrix-Style Anthem Sets Tone as Seahawks Outlast Patriots in 9/11 Tribute Opener

Lumen Field traded its usual roar for a moment of stillness before Seattle’s 2026 opener, as the Comcast-broadcast season kickoff doubled as the NFL’s lead tribute marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks two days early.

Pearl Jam guitarist and Seattle native Mike McCready delivered the anthem not with a traditional vocal arrangement but with a freewheeling, Hendrix-inspired solo that leaned into the city’s grunge identity. NBC commentator Mike Tirico, calling the game for the network, described the performance on air as “authentically Seattle.”

The ceremony included a stadium-wide moment of silence and honored first responders who traveled cross-country to aid recovery efforts after the attacks. A military flyover closed out the pregame program, with similar tributes planned at NFL venues throughout the Week 1 weekend.

Injury scare, then a lock-down finish

The game itself turned on an early setback: Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold exited with a hip injury just minutes in, forcing backup Drew Lock into action with little preparation. Lock responded by steering Seattle to a 13-10 win, including a 45-yard fourth-quarter touchdown strike to Jaxon Smith-Njigba that proved decisive.

The matchup carried added stakes as a rematch of February’s Super Bowl LX, which Seattle won, with New England arriving in search of early redemption.

NBC lands a marquee Week 1 showcase

The opener gave Comcast’s NBC a high-drama broadcast window, blending the emotional tribute with a Super Bowl rematch and an underdog quarterback storyline. Comcast shares closed at $25.17, up 2.11% from the prior close of $24.65, valuing the media and telecom conglomerate at roughly $92.5 billion. The company’s Media segment, which includes NBC’s NFL rights package, remains a key driver as the league’s schedule shifts into full swing.

What to watch

• An update on Sam Darnold’s hip injury and whether Lock draws further starts
• Seattle’s Week 2 matchup as it opens defense of its championship run
• Upcoming quarterly results from Comcast, where NBC’s NFL ratings performance feeds into Media segment results

Source: original release