• Cris Collinsworth and Mike Tirico are preparing NBC’s broadcast for Super Bowl 60 with detailed research and layered contingency planning.
  • Collinsworth compiles vast amounts of notes but plans to use only a small fraction on-air.
  • The NBC team leans on experience and coordination to handle unexpected game developments.
  • A behind-the-scenes clip of their preparation can be viewed from the network’s coverage (link below).

H2: How NBC’s lead team is preparing

NBC’s Super Bowl broadcast is built on two things: preparation and flexibility. Veterans Cris Collinsworth and Mike Tirico are leading the network’s on-air coverage for Super Bowl 60, and their weeks of work center on assembling information, rehearsing timing, and laying out backup plans for whatever the game produces.

Collinsworth, known for his encyclopedic knowledge of the game, spends hours compiling research and situational notes. Only a tiny fraction of that material will be used live, but the depth of preparation allows him to react quickly when the moment calls for context or insight.

H3: The method behind the notes

The process looks simple on screen but is intensive behind the scenes. Producers, researchers and the broadcast team create packets on teams, players, trends and potential storylines. Collinsworth reviews those packets, highlights key nuggets and keeps extensive personal notes for quick reference.

That store of facts is less about scripting the broadcast and more about readiness — the ability to provide informed analysis instantly if a surprise play, injury or turning point occurs. Past experience, including high-pressure games from more than a decade ago, informs how he structures and prioritizes that material.

H4: Mike Tirico’s role and coordination

As play-by-play anchor, Mike Tirico coordinates timing, introductions and the flow between live action and studio elements. Tirico and Collinsworth work closely with producers to manage pacing — when to cut to commercials, cue features, or allow extended analysis during critical moments.

Together they rely on clear communication with the production truck and on-air colleagues. This coordination ensures the broadcast remains coherent and engaging for the wide Super Bowl audience.

H5: Contingency plans and live feel

A hallmark of major live sports telecasts is contingency planning. NBC builds alternate scripts, prepares additional graphics and lines up pre-recorded packages that can be dropped in as needed. Collinsworth’s readiness makes it easier to pivot from prepared commentary to spontaneous analysis without losing the broadcast’s rhythm.

H5: Watch the behind-the-scenes clip

Fans can catch a glimpse of the team’s preparation in a clip linked from NBC’s coverage: https://youtu.be/0RFXLwZV_fA?si=6JfcKGNddcB8dYSp&t=3533. The footage highlights the layered prep that goes into a single broadcast and the collaborative work that helps deliver a smooth live telecast.

Final note

Super Bowl broadcasts are as much about backstage preparation as on-field drama. For Collinsworth and Tirico, the weeks of research and rehearsal set the stage so they can respond crisply and knowledgeably when the biggest plays — and the biggest stories — unfold.

Image Referance: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7007700/2026/01/30/super-bowl-60-2026-broadcasters-nbc-tirico-collinsworth/