The 2026 NFL season just kicked off with the Hall of Fame Game on Friday, and while rookie quarterbacks Carson Beck and Haynes King absolutely brought the heat, it was Cris Collinsworth in the broadcast booth who completely stole the show with his wild enthusiasm. Beck, the Arizona Cardinals rookie signal-caller, put on a passing clinic that night, but Collinsworth’s reaction to it had everyone talking.
Mike Tirico Had to Hit the Brakes on the Hype Train
When Beck got the starting nod for the Cardinals, you might not have predicted the stellar performance from the former Georgia/Miami quarterback. But to say Cris Collinsworth was “loving it” would be a massive understatement. Beck finished the night 15-of-19 passing for 188 yards and one touchdown, and his play was so impressive that Collinsworth’s excitement hit peak levels almost immediately. Think about this: his fellow commentator, Mike Tirico, actually had to calm him down *before the first quarter had even wrapped up*! One fan highlighted how Tirico had to cool him off, as Collinsworth was already ramping up the quarterback’s hype to eleven. Fans quickly started piling on, not just to the moment itself, but to Collinsworth’s overwhelming praise for Beck, which was a constant throughout the entire first half of Thursday’s game.
Fans Are Already Joking About Collinsworth’s New Obsession
It was no surprise at all that Collinsworth continued heaping praise on Beck, even throwing in a few “WOW” type of reactions to various plays the rookie signal-caller made. And it was even less surprising that fans were definitely taking note of every single moment of it throughout Beck’s debut. The jokes kept coming, with fans noting Collinsworth “found someone else,” clearly referencing the long-standing running gag about his constant high praise for Patrick Mahomes. One fan didn’t hold back, writing, “I’d pick Tomlin over Collinsworth every day. Chris was about to compare a semi sideways pass to mahomes until Mike called him out. Collinsworth is the most annoying of them all. I’d rather Brady and Mike on the call.” As impressive as Beck was in his first preseason outing, it’s super apparent that fans couldn’t get enough of Collinsworth’s return to the booth and, more specifically, his immediate full-on buy-in to the new quarterback after literally his first drive.
So, what are we in for this preseason, and beyond? If this Hall of Fame Game debut is any indication, Mike Tirico is going to have his hands full keeping Collinsworth grounded. Are we ready for a whole season of non-stop “WOWs” and instant GOAT comparisons for Carson Beck? Get ready, because it looks like Collinsworth already is.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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