Mike McCready, the lead guitarist of Pearl Jam, performs the national anthem before the Patriots and Seahawks open the 2026 NFL season at Lumen Field. He is not done after that. McCready also joins Soundgarden for the halftime show, and country star Luke Bryan headlined a free pregame concert outside the stadium Wednesday afternoon.
| Moment | Performer | When and where |
|---|---|---|
| National anthem | Mike McCready (Pearl Jam) | On the field before kickoff, shown on NBC |
| Halftime show | Soundgarden with Mike McCready | Halftime at Lumen Field |
| Pregame concert | Luke Bryan | Salute 250 Kickoff Concert, 2:30 p.m. PT, Lumen Field North Lot |
Why Mike McCready
McCready’s family moved to Seattle shortly after he was born and he grew up a Seahawks fan. His Jimi Hendrix inspired instrumental version of the anthem is a Seattle tradition at this point. He has played it at Seahawks and Mariners games before, including the Seahawks’ 2017 home opener, so the team went local for the biggest opener it has ever hosted.
The anthem is part of the NBC pregame, which starts at 7 p.m. ET with a special edition of Football Night in America. Kickoff is 8:20 p.m. ET.
Soundgarden at Halftime
Soundgarden, the other pillar of the Seattle sound, plays the halftime show with McCready sitting in on guitar. The band is expected to lean on its biggest songs. Halftime shows at the Kickoff Game are not televised in full the way the Super Bowl halftime is, so expect NBC to show a portion around its halftime coverage. Soundgarden also played the NFL Kickoff concert outside the same stadium in 2014, when Seattle last hosted the opener as defending champion.
Luke Bryan Before the Game
Bryan headlined the Salute 250 Kickoff Concert at 2:30 p.m. PT in the North Lot outside Lumen Field. The show honored service members and veterans, with a VIP section for active duty, veterans and USAA members, and season ticket holders could claim a free ticket on a first come basis.
Related
Live score · What channel is the game on · Injury report and inactives · NFL Kickoff Game history · Prediction and odds
The Bottom Line
Mike McCready sings the anthem, or rather plays it, then joins Soundgarden at halftime. Luke Bryan handled the pregame concert outside the stadium. It is a Seattle night from start to finish before the Patriots and Seahawks take the field.