Eagles Keep McKee Starting After Mission Feature
NBC's broadcast spotlighted Tanner McKee's Latter-day Saint mission while Philadelphia's backup quarterback steps in for the injured Jalen Hurts.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Latter-Day Saints
NBC's Sunday Night Football broadcast showed photos from Tanner McKee's mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints during the Eagles-Commanders game. Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni said McKee remains the team's starting quarterback.
Why it matters
McKee has started the last three games with Hurts sidelined by pulmonary emboli and placed on injured reserve, and the Eagles have lost all three. The broadcast drew attention to his faith background at a moment when his performance on the field is under close scrutiny.
Across three starts, McKee completed 72 of 114 passes for 638 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions, while the Eagles went 0-3. McKee was drafted in the sixth round out of Stanford and entered 2026 as the third-string quarterback.
The players
Tanner McKee
McKee is an Eagles quarterback who served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Brazil before playing college football at Stanford.
Nick Sirianni
Sirianni is the Philadelphia Eagles head coach who confirmed McKee will remain the starting quarterback.
Mike Tirico
Tirico is an NBC sports broadcaster who called the Sunday Night Football game and described McKee's mission during the telecast.
The details
During the second quarter, NBC showed photos from McKee's mission in Brazil, where he learned Portuguese, while play-by-play announcer Mike Tirico described the service. The Eagles released Andy Dalton about a week before Hurts was placed on injured reserve, leaving McKee as the primary option.
Timeline
2019: Photos from McKee's mission were taken for a Deseret News story.
2026 season start: McKee entered the season as the Eagles' third-string quarterback.
Sunday, November 2, 2026: NBC's broadcast aired the mission segment.
Monday, November 3, 2026: Sirianni said McKee remains the starter.
Culture Shift
The broadcast reflects a pattern in which national sports telecasts increasingly feature athletes' religious service, bringing Latter-day Saint missionary experience to a mainstream audience. It places McKee's faith background alongside his professional role in a way that viewers across the country can see.
The Eagles' next game will test whether McKee can hold the starting role while Hurts is out, and the team's record over the last three starts makes that outcome a key fantasy and roster question. Fans tracking the team can follow the quarterback depth chart for any change in starter status.
The takeaway
Athletes' faith and service stories can reach national audiences through live broadcasts, which gives viewers context beyond the box score. For those following the Eagles, McKee's ability to protect the ball in the coming games will determine how long he keeps the job.
Further reading
Explore more on Latter-Day Saints coverage across the country.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Deseret News.
