NFL fans did not hold back after a widely criticized rendition of the national anthem ahead of the AFC Championship clash between the Denver Broncos and the New England Patriots.
Nathaniel Rateliff, a Denver-based singer-songwriter, was tasked with performing The Star-Spangled Banner moments before kickoff — but the performance quickly ignited backlash online.
Viewers flooded social media with harsh reactions, calling the anthem “horrendous,” “weak,” and “cringe.” One fan wrote that it ranked among the “top three worst national anthem performances” they’d ever heard, while another complained the NFL “needs to cast better singers.” Others accused Rateliff of being “pitchy,” with one especially brutal comment labeling him a “drunk uncle.”
Even fans who said they normally enjoy his music admitted the performance missed the mark, with one post reading, “I like his stuff, but that was awful.” Another viewer joked that the real surprise wasn’t the anthem itself — but that anyone seemed to enjoy it.
The performance ended with a dramatic flyover by the Colorado National Guard, which drew praise despite the vocal backlash that came before it.
Inside the stadium, however, the spectacle appeared to fire up the home crowd. The Broncos jumped out to an early 7–0 lead when backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham connected with Courtland Sutton for a first-quarter touchdown, as injured starter Bo Nix watched from the sidelines with a fractured ankle.
Unfortunately for Rateliff, the timing only amplified comparisons to another recent anthem moment that fans couldn’t stop praising.
Just a week earlier, Chicago icon Jim Cornelison was hailed for delivering what many called “the best national anthem of all time” before the Chicago Bears’ playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
Cornelison’s booming, emotional performance at Soldier Field — delivered in freezing conditions — earned widespread acclaim online. The 61-year-old has become a staple of major Chicago sporting events, regularly performing for the Bears, the Chicago Blackhawks, and even the Indianapolis 500.
With fans still buzzing over Cornelison’s performance, Rateliff’s anthem struggled to measure up — and social media made sure he heard about it.
His anthem was just fine!