The 2026 NFL season opened with a bang—and a buzzkill. The Seattle Seahawks edged out the New England Patriots 13-10 in a Super Bowl 60 rematch, but the real controversy wasn't the final score. It was the pregame rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner."
Pearl Jam's lead guitarist, Mike McCready, took the field at Lumen Field on Wednesday night armed with just an electric guitar. No vocals, no backing band—just a solo instrumental. While some appreciated the artistic flair, a vocal contingent of fans was having none of it.
"As someone who has played guitar my whole life and loves the instrument… An electric guitar should never be used to play the national anthem in this way. This is a disgrace," one fan posted on social media.
Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports echoed that sentiment: "What is this NFL? I don’t need, or want, some acoustic/signed version of the U.S. national anthem on Opening Night of the 2026 season. Have somebody sing 'The Star-Spangled Banner.' Save Pearl Jam for another occasion."
The backlash quickly escalated from mere criticism to a full-blown call for presidential intervention. Fans flooded social media with demands for President Trump to step in and change the league's anthem rules.
"Hey President Trump – NO more guitar solo renditions of the national anthem! Singer only! Jim Cornelison!!!" one fan wrote. Another added, "That anthem was horrible. President Trump needs to fix it." A third simply pleaded, "POTUS, do something about this."
While the NFL is unlikely to let the White House dictate its pregame ceremonies, the president has a history of strong opinions on the anthem. In 2018, he famously said, "I don’t think people should be staying in the locker rooms… You have to stand proudly for the national anthem, or you shouldn’t be playing, you shouldn’t be there. Maybe you shouldn’t be in the country."
This isn't the first time the anthem has sparked controversy in sports. The Bills' decision to play the Canadian anthem at every home game drew mixed reactions. And Brittney Griner's anthem sing-along signaled a shift in how players engage with the song.
For now, the NFL has made no move to alter its anthem policy, and President Trump hasn't publicly responded. But the debate over what constitutes a respectful rendition is far from over. As the season progresses, fans will be watching—and listening—closely.
